The impact of COVID – 19 pandemic on the implementation of curriculum recovery plan in Mopani West District, Limpopo Province

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the implementation of curriculum recovery plan in Mopani West District, Limpopo Province. The closure of all educational institutions in South Africa on 18 March 2020 as a measure to curb the spread of corona virus and to prepare the Health delivery system to deal with the pandemic was the right decision. This was meant to save life as schools could be seen as high - risk centres for the spread of the virus. The Department of Basic Education developed a curriculum recovery plan to ensure that curriculums that have not been covered are covered when schools re-open. There has been mixed feelings amongst the public and community structures, teacher unions and organisations with a keen interest in education that it was premature to reopen schools. The study was guided by Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs theory. A qualitative multiple case study research approach was employed based on an interpretive paradigm. A total of six participants were purposefully selected. Research data were gathered through individual interviews, observations and documents analysis.
Findings revealed that schools were not covid-19 compliant, and placed learners, teachers and support staff at a high risk for covid-19 infection. Non- compliant to Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the implementation of curriculum recovery plan.

Key word: Curriculum Recovery plan, Covid-19 Pandemic, Implementation, social distancing, Quarantine, Sanitizer