The challenges of teachers during Covid-19 in rural secondary schools in the Rustenburg area, North West Province

Abstract

The study aims to explore the challenges that educators in rural secondary schools experienced during Covid-19 in the Rustenburg area of South Africa, in the North-West Province. The outbreak of the pandemic in South Africa has led to South Africans having to alter a number of aspects pertaining to their daily activities, including teaching and learning practices. The purpose in this study is to understand the effects of the pandemic on the education system, and especially on the tasks that educators have to perform on a daily basis. The study is qualitative in nature and is guided by a phenomenological approach. The researcher purposefully sampled 12 participants of different designations within the teaching industry who also have to teach learners on a daily basis and held semi-structured interviews with them. The sample consists of educators, heads of departments and principals who also facilitate classes in their respective schools. Data was collected by means of online platforms, namely Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The researcher made use of thematic analysis to and transcribed the data verbatim. From the thematic analysis stemmed nine themes, and twenty-three categories. From these interviews, a number of findings were deduced, which are discussed in more detail in the study. The researcher followed all the necessary protocols regarding the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act-mandated. The researcher also obtained ethical clearance from the relevant authorities before conducting research. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made by the participants, the Department of Basic Education should provide learners and educators in rural areas with adequate skills and resources in order for schools to run smoothly, even in the event of a crisis. The DBE should look into to providing compulsory training for all educators to learn about the basic use of technology and online platforms in the classroom.