COVID-19 A GGA RESPONSE

The report by Good Governance Africa (GGA) outlines critical interventions for South Africa's education sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the phased return of learners and the protection of vulnerable youth. It highlights severe infrastructure gaps, such as 3,475 schools lacking adequate water supply, and warns that the 'digital divide' prevents the poorest 80% of learners from accessing curricular learning during lockdown. GGA advocates for the prioritisation of Grade R learners due to their low infection risk and the critical nature of early language acquisition. The document also emphasizes the plight of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, where 99% of practitioners reported a loss of fees, and calls for the integration of unemployed youth and parents as support resources to mitigate shortages in educators and psycho-social services.

• South Africa faces significant infrastructure deficits that hinder the safe reopening of schools, with 3,475 schools requiring adequate water supply through plumbing, tanks, or boreholes.
• The 'digital divide' has created a severe education gap, with virtually no curricular learning occurring during lockdown for the poorest 80% of South African learners.
• GGA argues that Grade R learners should be prioritised for return to school because they are less likely to transmit the virus and are in a sensitive phase for language acquisition.
• The Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector is in financial crisis, with 99% of practitioners reporting that caregivers stopped paying fees and 83% unable to pay full staff salaries during lockdown.
• There is a critical shortage of psycho-social support in schools; one social worker in Soweto reported managing eight different schools.
• The pandemic has increased risks for children, including exposure to abuse, violence, and online predators, while potentially causing lifelong neurological impairment for those facing acute deprivation or toxic stress.
• Youth (ages 15-34) represent a significant underutilised resource for the COVID-19 response, capable of assisting in community outreach and providing psycho-social support as student health professionals.

APA

Good Governance Africa (2020). COVID-19 A GGA RESPONSE. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2020/05/FINAL-CDYF-COVID-RESPONSE-DOCUMENT.pdf

Chicago

Good Governance Africa. COVID-19 A GGA RESPONSE. 2020. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2020/05/FINAL-CDYF-COVID-RESPONSE-DOCUMENT.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Good Governance Africa |title=COVID-19 A GGA RESPONSE |date=May 2020 |url=https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2020/05/FINAL-CDYF-COVID-RESPONSE-DOCUMENT.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{goodgovernanceafrica2020covid19, author = {{Good Governance Africa}}, title = {{COVID-19 A GGA RESPONSE}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2020/05/FINAL-CDYF-COVID-RESPONSE-DOCUMENT.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }