Impact of COVID-19 on education

The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread education disruptions in Africa, with over 90% of students facing interruptions due to school closures. The impact was most severe for rural and poor populations due to a significant digital divide, where 60% to 85% of university students lacked the devices or internet access required for online learning. Even in relatively well-resourced South Africa, students lost between three-quarters and a full year of schooling, with up to 500,000 children dropping out. Beyond academic loss, the pandemic increased risks of child labour, particularly for girls, and caused mental health issues due to lockdowns lasting up to two years.

• The pandemic caused massive disruptions to African education, with more than 90% of students experiencing interruptions. In South Africa, UNICEF estimates that the average student lost between nine months and a full year of schooling, and up to 500,000 children dropped out entirely.
• A severe digital divide exacerbated educational inequalities, as students from wealthy backgrounds with high-speed internet faced minimal disruption, while rural and poor students often lost all access to schooling. Between 60% and 85% of African university students lacked the necessary internet access or devices for online education.
• The shift to remote learning and prolonged lockdowns led to diminished learning focus, mental health challenges, and an increase in child labour exploitation, especially for girls performing unpaid domestic work.

APA

Aikins, E. R., & Cilliers, J. (2026). Impact of COVID-19 on education. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=06-education&topic=06-impact-of-covid19

Chicago

Aikins, Enoch Randy, and Jakkie Cilliers. Impact of COVID-19 on education. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=06-education&topic=06-impact-of-covid19.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Aikins |first1=Enoch Randy |last2=Cilliers |first2=Jakkie |title=Impact of COVID-19 on education |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=21 April 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=06-education&topic=06-impact-of-covid19 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{aikins2026impact, author = {Aikins, Enoch Randy and Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{Impact of COVID-19 on education}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=06-education&topic=06-impact-of-covid19}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }