The Covid-19 pandemic has had severe effects on the education system in South Africa. On average, South African students lost between 75% and one year of studies and are now one year behind. Evidence of the detrimental impacts of Covid-19 on South African learners offers a worrying reality showing the highest dropout rate in 20 years.
School dropout is the result of academic failure, bullying, disengagement, financial difficulties, mental illness, disabilities, pregnancy and transport issues.
Shaun Swartz, CEO of Learnalot, an authorised education partner and world-class online learning company committed to providing award-winning GED online learning solutions, says, “Learners have suffered and the path to education recovery should start immediately. The American GED® is an alternative to the South African Grade 12 and other high school leaving certificates. The GED® is the only higher secondary certificate available in over 85 countries and accepted by nearly all universities in the US and many across the world. GED South Africa is committed to putting South African learners back on path to learning as education develops critical thinking skills, understanding, motivates confidence, and equips people with the necessary skills to earn a living.”
He adds, GED South Africa has focused on three priorities: Offering learners a second chance to achieve the equivalent of a secondary school leaving certificate to facilitate employment or entry to further studies, recovering learning losses and preparing and supporting learners. “
GED South Africa is committed to putting South African learners back on path to learning. “Education develops understanding, motivates confidence, and equips people with the necessary skills to make money.”
Priority 1: Offering learners a second chance to achieve the equivalent of a secondary school leaving certificate to facilitate employment or entry to further studies.
Students who have failed their matric, or students who dropped out of school for whatever reason, have the opportunity of a second chance. GED South Africa serves the purpose of making it possible to earn the equivalent of a secondary school leaving certificate to facilitate employment or entry into further studies. “The GED significantly improves someone’s employment benefits,” says Swartz
Priority 2: Recovering learning loss
South African learners have lost substantial learning time and it can’t be assumed that on return to school, learners can easily return to their new grade having mastered concepts from the previous year. Learnalot has recently expanded their one-on-one tuition offering, with a focus on individual learner’s skills, offering support based on each learner’s abilities.
Priority 3: Preparing and supporting learners
Winston Churchill said, “never let a good crisis go to waste” This pandemic has had a deep impact to the education journey. The pandemic has encouraged South Africans to embrace technology and benefiting from learning in a safe environment that allows:
- Many overseas universities accept the GED for admission purposes and offer highly regarded degree programs. South African GED graduates who wish to enroll for degree study do have the option to consider overseas online universities. One such option is the University of the People which is the world’s first non-profit, tuition-free, American accredited, online university.
“The GED is opening many doors for learners who previously had very limited options and gives them a second chance for employment opportunities or further studies, “concludes Swartz.
