Abstract
This investigation aimed to explore the mode of curriculum delivery in Primary School in Tshwane South District during the Covid-19 pandemic because there is insufficient research on this subject. A case study of a Primary School was used to obtain in-depth information about the mode of curriculum delivery during the Covid-19 pandemic. Using a case study was also practical because the pandemic's restrictions posed a challenge to research many schools. Data was gathered through document analysis. A qualitative approach was employed to analyze and identify categories and emerging themes from the data. An interpretive paradigm was used while connectivism theory was employed as a lens. The findings revealed that schools used face-to-face mode of curriculum delivery during the lockdown and after schools re-opened during Covid-19, resulting in a challenge with content coverage that led to revising the annual teaching plans and trimming the curriculum.
TopBackground
The emergence of Covid-19 prompted governments to declare a state of emergency and close down all activity, including schools. This is because the virus was highly infectious and could be deadly, causing government policies to introduce social distancing to control the spread of the virus (Viner et al., 2020). UNESCO's (2020) estimation in April 2020 was that 138 countries had closed their schools. Putri et al. (2020: pp. 4809) point that UNESCO mentioned that the “corona pandemic threatens 577 million students in the world”. Aborode et al. (2020) pointed out that the closure of schools and universities impacted over 70% of the world's population. Van Lancker & Parolin (2020) posit that the situation resulted in the interruption of almost 80% of learners globally.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Qualitative Approach: The methodology that was used in this study which does not involve the use of numbers.
Online Learning: Learning that take place over the internet.
Delivery Mode: The way curriculum is delivered.
Alternation: Change of the method of curriculum delivery.
Connectivism: A lens through which the study was looked at.
COVID-19: Coronavirus pandemic that outbroke in 2019 which attacks the respiratory system of human beings.
Curriculum: Subjects comprising a course of study in a learning institution with a standards-based sequence of planned activities and experiences where students practice and achieve knowledge in content and learn practical skills.
Prolonged School Closure: Extended school closure.
Pedagogy: Method and practice of teaching.
Educational Technologies: Technological tools used to facilitate teaching and learning.