Evaluating the contribution of post COVID-19 pandemic to equitable schooling: A case of South African Secondary Schools

Abstract

This paper interrogates the relationship between the availability of the post Covid-19 pandemic and equitable schooling in secondary  schools. The paper resulted from diverse discourses, some of which emphasise that the prevalence of Post Covid-19 in the world, has  influenced gender disparity in schooling to the level of generating debates about equitable schooling for both genders. This paper is  conceptual and empirical in nature within the qualitative research paradigm. The question guiding this paper is: to what extent is Post  Covid-19 pandemic behind regarding schooling as a leveller for all genders? Narrative enquiry and interviewing techniques were  employed to collect data. Out of the population of 15 secondary schools in one of the circuits in Vhembe district in Limpopo Province,  South Africa, three were conveniently sampled. In each of the three sampled secondary schools, only Chairpersons of the School  Governing Bodies as well as Chairpersons of the Representative Council of Learners became research participants. Findings revealed that  only few people saw a connection between post Covid-19 pandemic and equalisation of schooling. Secondly, inclusive education  which caters for all genders is still a problem in many education systems. Thirdly, inability by schools to obviate discrimination of learners  on the basis of gender, is a problem. Fourthly, inability by secondary schools to embrace post Covid-19 pandemic to encourage equitable  schooling, is a problem. Fifthly, inability by schools to push back the frontiers of pre-Covid-19 gender disparity, is a problem. Lastly, failure  by schools to utilise the prevalence of post Covid-19 pandemic to keep pupils psychologically and developmentally ready for  equitable schooling is a problem. The researcher recommends for the eradication and total elimination of gender inequality to pave way  for the delivery of equitable schooling to all genders.