The world is changing at an unimaginable pace, accelerated by growing economic demands, technological advances and, of course, the global Covid-19 pandemic. According to the World Economic Forum, an estimated 65% of children in primary school today will end up working in jobs that do not yet exist.
The importance of developing change-resilient, tech-savvy learners became noticeably evident during South Africa’s first hard lockdown, when learners and students of all ages were forced to stay at home. A lucky few were able to continue learning, using online platforms and e-learning solutions.
The disruptions caused by the pandemic make it likely that education in its traditional sense will be phased out in the near future, as more people become accustomed to the efficiency, convenience and additional benefits available through either synchronous learning opportunities such as virtual classrooms, or asynchronous solutions like self-paced e-learning courses. The pandemic changed the fundamental way people access and engage with education.
This, coupled with the fact that children need to prepare for a future where work will likely be done remotely, means it is more necessary than ever before to bridge the digital divide, facilitate access to online opportunities and include digital literacy as a feature in school curriculums.
Even before the pandemic, in 2019, the Department of Basic Education trained almost 44 000 teachers in computer skills, and through a partnership with the University of South Africa (UNISA) made use of more than 20 ICT laboratories nationwide to train teachers in digital skills such as coding. While available at many private schools, offerings like coding have also been piloted in a number of public schools to help prepare learners to deal with the inevitable disruptions to learning and work.
The National Development Plan, when addressing how to improve education, training and innovation, specifies that “quality education encourages technology shifts and innovation that are necessary to solve present-day challenges”.
The Department of Basic Education has highlighted key focus areas to promote equal and quality education for South African scholars in keeping with global digital best practice. These include: implementing a curriculum with skills and competencies for a changing world in all public schools; completing an Integrated Infrastructure Development Plan, informed by infrastructure delivery, regular maintenance and resourcing; continuing to improve and strengthen education provisions of learners with special education needs; gradually increasing the number of workbooks available in interactive formats; equipping all students with the skills they need to survive and thrive in the fourth industrial revolution; and providing end-to-end information communications technologies (ICT) solutions for schools by developing and distributing digital content for online and offline learning.
It has also committed to provide young people with the tools they need, including tablets and data, in order for them to access online learning opportunities. In June it was announced that R206-million had been set aside by the provincial government to provide matric learners in Mpumalanga with tablets to help improve their learning experiences.
This is definitely a step in the right direction, but South Africa’s children will not be able to fully participate in the digital revolution as global citizens if the cost of data and the reliability and availability of internet connections and mobile networks are not addressed. This infrastructure is vital in ensuring a successful shift to online learning and the prioritisation of digital literacy and digital skills to allow learners to participate in the workplace of the future.
In both urban and rural areas unstable internet access and a lack of electricity still act as a barrier for children in both traditional education systems and in online learning environments.
If the education system does not adapt to the changing world it finds itself in, South Africa risks having, not only a large youth population that is unemployed, but a youth population that will be largely unemployable going forward.
The pros and cons of online learning have been dissected and analysed extensively since the global Covid-19 pandemic caused school closures worldwide, but one of the most flaunted benefits is also one that makes this form of education so appealing to many parents: it’s cheaper, and by a large margin!
In response to national lockdowns and the need for physical distancing, many traditional schools have also started offering online options or hybrid-learning experiences. Remote learning is a safe and affordable option for parents who are looking to cut costs without sacrificing the quality of their child’s education.
A study by financial advisory group AlphaWealth found that a top-class education will set parents back between R1.8-million and R8.7-million over the course of their child’s basic education, depending on whether they attend a quality public school or a private institution. This, their report adds, does not include school uniforms, textbooks, extramural activities or even the acceptance fee that some private schools charge — this is purely the cost of tuition.
The AlphaWealth study found that premium private schools were offering online-only classes at a rate of R85 000 per year, down significantly from their regular in-person school fees that would set parents back a cool R150 000 annually.
AlphaWealth found that other independent school networks had also started reducing their rates for online learning options from R73 000 per year to R44 100 per year for grade Rs, and from around R110 000 to just over R50 000 annually for grade eight to 10 learners.
Whether opting for the premium schooling options or the more affordable school network, parents could be saving between R60 000 and R70 000 each year by taking their child’s learning online.
Delia Hamlett is an education and learning consultant and has been working as an high school teacher during the pandemic. She says that when considering an online education solution, parents must also be cautious of the hidden costs that come with remote learning. “While the school fees are lower and parents find it more cost-effective than traditional schooling, there are additional expenses that will be incurred; think about devices, electricity and data,” she warns.
But those are the obvious costs. “If you’re new to online learning and you don’t check the system requirements on your computer, then inexperience can be expensive!” Many online programmes may also require parents to purchase specific software.
She says educators are also reporting an increase in children who need glasses to counteract the glare and digital eye strain that can result from prolonged screen time. “And then of course there is the adjustment to being physically isolated from peers, even when digitally connected,” she explains. If a child is feeling isolated, depressed or anxious, or simply not adjusting to the “new normal” online experience, then mental health interventions with a professional can set parents back between R700 and R1 400 a session.
For students pursuing an asynchronous online learning experience that is self-paced and does not involve a timetabled, interactive virtual classroom, extra lessons might be needed if they encounter content that they cannot internalise on their own. Fortunately, however, Hamlett says many asynchronous schooling options do offer one-on-one support for learners who are struggling.
While online learning and the benefits may be appealing, especially for parents who want to raise active digital citizens prepared for the future of work, remote education might not be the right fit for every child. Academic publisher Juta found during its 2021 Survey of South African students that more than 99% of respondents had been learning exclusively online or using a hybrid model, with individual experiences varying greatly. Of the respondents, 33% found the experience to be better than in-person learning, while 40% found the experience worse and less effective.
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a sharp increase in both the development and the consumption of online learning materials. Students, parents and teachers alike have been turning to the internet to explore new ways of learning and digital knowledge-sharing. Here is a list of some of the most popular online resources to enhance online education experiences and foster a love for lifelong learning in fun and interactive ways:
Facebook Zero
The app itself is not data intensive, but can be used to access educational pages to help children further their goals and progress on their learning journey. Facebook pages such as Opportunities for Africans and Opportunity Desk for You post educational material as well as opportunities for scholarships, competitions, internships, training and volunteering.
Duolingo
Learners who do not speak English as their primary language can use this app to help with their conversational skills, reading and writing. This is also a helpful tool for children who are taking an additional language like French or German. There is both a free and a paid version of this app.
Ambani Africa
Closer to home, this Android app offers six African languages at a foundation-phase level, making it perfect for young children who want to grasp core concepts in their mother tongue. The app, which can also be used by older children and adults who are learning the basics of isiZulu, isiXhosa, Setswana, Sepedi, Thsivenda or English, makes use of games, songs and stories, as well as Augmented Reality downloadable books to facilitate learning. There is also an option for weekly online group classes and individual tutoring.
YouTube
The video streaming platform has its own dedicated education and learning channel that can help visual learners with everything from study-from-home tips to crash courses in traditional school subjects and lessons on SQL (a programming language), illustration, cooking and art. The channel also has career guidance videos and industry explainers to help students make informed decisions about their future.
BrainPOP.com
This website offers an array of animated resources to support learning and engage students, either at school, at home or on mobile devices. The content includes videos, quizzes, games, mobile apps and activity pages and covers hundreds of topics within the subjects of math, science, social studies, English, technology, arts and music, and also includes health. While there are paid subscriptions available, there is also a range of free interactive content available on the site.
Codecademy
Here students can learn to code for free, with self-paced learning courses on topics such as Python, front-end engineering, JavaScript, HTML, web development, data science and more. Beginners to coding can access the basics of programming languages. The website offers a number of courses free of charge — all that is needed is a computer and access to the internet.
Udemy
While most people think of the American massive open online course (MOOC) as being aimed at adults wanting to reskill or upskill, there are a surprising amount of courses that cater specifically to primary and high school students. By mid-2021, the platform had…