COVID-19 induced online learning: the Zimbabwean experience

Abstract

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) brought a lot of social, economic and political tensions worldwide, Zimbabwe included. All sectors of the social services were affected by the pandemic, the education sector also received its own fair share of challenges, as learners and educator’s learning process, was affected by the pandemic. The COVID-19 induced online learning paper sought to bring out the experiences of learners and educators during the COVID-19 periods, laying out how the learning process took place, the challenges experienced, and the lessons learnt. In trying to answer the above stated problem the following objectives were used; to explore the experiences of learners and educators while conducting online lessons; to assess the challenges faced by both learners and educators when making use of technology. The study made use of a desk review and electronic media to collect data. The research found out that learners and educators in most government institutions could not make use of online learning after the closure of schools complying with the national lockdown period. Learners and educators in non-government institutions conducted online lessons but faced a myriad of challenges as the country was not well prepared for online learning. The study therefore recommends universal access to internet and for the government to partner with internet service providers so that it becomes accessible and affordable to the majority of the populace.