Open Access Peer-reviewed Commentary

The critical evaluation of educators' struggles in the context of Covid-19: Some theological analysis

Article Sidebar

Download PDF
Submitted   Aug 19, 2021
Published   Nov 12, 2021
Issue    Vol 3 No 1 (2021)
DOI   10.25082/ADEP.2021.01.005

Views

3019

Downloads

782

Citations

PlumX Metrics

Main Article Content

Magezi Elijah Baloyi corresponding author
Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Most countries have realized that education is one of the important keys to transforming their countries, and this responsibility rests hugely on the shoulders of teachers. It is concerning that the plight of teachers who are carriers of both our children’s future and the future of this country seems not to be receiving the attention it deserves. Although teacher unions are many, it is questionable whether the teaching profession is receiving the protection and the encouragement it deserves in this country. The teaching profession faced many challenges in recent years. Just as we thought that the massive resignation trend that started in 2014 was coming to an end and that a period of stability was dawning, Covid-19 and the hard lockdown of 2020 happened and many of the teaching profession’s serious concerns were once again thrust into the limelight. This article is concerned with the struggles of teachers during the corona period; the researcher looked at, for example, the paradox of the reopening of schools while the pandemic was raging towards its peak and how it affected teachers. Teachers were promised that they could work from home till retirement if they had comorbidities and are sixty and above of age, but they were recalled to work.

Keywords
teacher's salary, basic education, teacher's unions, counselling services

Article Details

How to Cite
Baloyi, M. (2021). The critical evaluation of educators’ struggles in the context of Covid-19: Some theological analysis. Advances in Developmental and Educational Psychology, 3(1), 121-129. https://doi.org/10.25082/ADEP.2021.01.005
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

References

  1. Asmal, L., Domingo, A. K., Volmink, J., Esterhuizen, T. M., Volmink, J., & Seedat, S. (2015). Investigating the association between diabetes mellitus, depression and psychological distress in a cohort of south african teachers: research. African Journal of Health Professions Education, 105(12), 1057-1060. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2015.v105i12.9843
  2. Baldwin, N. (2020). Mothekga to face off with unions. The Star, 17 July, 2020.
  3. Baloyi, M. E. (2016). The church’s pastoral role concerning challenges faced by teachers in South- African public schools: Some practical theological perspectives. Die Skriflig 50(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v50i1.2107
  4. Batya, R., & Becker L. (2005). Exploration of the narrative accounts of South African teachers working in a gang-violent community in the Western Cape. International Journal of Social Welfare, 14(2), 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-6866.2005.00347.x
  5. Berger, M. (2020). Teachers unions around the world clash with governments over coronavirus and school reopening plans. The Washington Post, dated 12 September 2020.
  6. Bonino, M. (2004). An introduction to ThirdWorld theologies, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  7. Burgess, S., & Sievertsen, H. H. (2020). Schools, skills, and learning: The impact of COVID-19 on education. https://voxeu.org/article/impact-covid-19-education
  8. Cilliers, J., Fleisch, B., Prinsloo, C., & Taylor, S. (2020). How to improve teaching practice?: an experimental comparison of centralized training and in-classroom coaching. Journal of Human Resources, 55(3), 926-962. https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.55.3.0618-9538R1
  9. Cleophas, F. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic highlights challenges of online teaching and learning. Mail and Guardian, 06 August 2020.
  10. Clinebell, H. (1984). Basic types of pastoral care and counselling, Abington Press, Nashville, TN
  11. Cone, J. H. (1975). God of the oppressed, Seabury Press, New York.
  12. Cruywagen, V. (2020). Call to delay reopening of schools. Maverick Citizen dated 07 January 2021.
  13. De Vos, P. (2015). ’Religion in schools: Time to decolonize our education? Constitutionally speaking’, viewed 11 November 2015. https://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za
  14. Fraillon, J., Ainley, J., Schulz, W., Friedman, T., & Duckworth, D. (2020). Preparing for Life in a Digital World: IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2018 International Report. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19389-8
  15. Julia, E. (2021). Covid cases on the rise at schools in Gauteng. Daily Maverick dated 08 June 2021 and accessed on 30 June, 2021.
  16. Knig, J., Jger-Biela, D. J., & Glutsch, N. (2020). Adapting to online teaching during covid-19 school closure: teacher education and teacher competence effects among early career teachers in germany. European Journal of Teacher Education, 43(3), 608-622. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2020.1809650
  17. Khubeka, T. (2021). Dept confirms reopening of schools postponed by two weeks. Eyewitness news, dated 14 January 2021 and accessed on 14 January, 2021. https://ewn.co.za
  18. Lartey, E. Y. (1997). In living colour, an intercultural approach to pastoral care and counselling, Wellington House, London
  19. Lederman, D. (2020). Faculty Confidence in Online Learning Grows. Envisioning Higher Education’s future.
  20. Lonene, M. (2021). Tiko axi etleri. Broadcasted between 06h00 and 07h00 on 13 January, 2021.
  21. Mabuza, Ernest. (2021). School holidays brought forward as number of Covid-19 cases rises. Sowetan Live dated 28 June, 2021.
  22. Mahaye, N. E. (2020). The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Education: Navigating Forward the Pedagogy of Blended Learning.
  23. Mayibongwe, M. (2020). There’s no need to employ extra teachers, says Angie.
  24. Matangira, L. (2021). 1,169 teachers, 19 pupils succumbed to covid-19 since March 2020-Dept. Eyewitness News, 14 February, 2021.
  25. Matiso, S. (2020). The Department of Basic Education is reported to be struggling to employ substitute teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listeners’ debate whether teachers with comorbidities should retire earlier at 11h00 am in Radio 702 on 02 September, 2020.
  26. Mishra, L., Gupta, T., & Shree, A. (2020). Online teaching-learning in higher education during lockdown period of covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 1, 100012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100012
  27. Mkhize, N. (2015). ’Indebted teachers resign to raid their pensions’, viewed 25 July, 2016. https://www.bdlive.co.za
  28. Morgan, A. (2000). What is narrative therapy? Dulwich Centre Publications.
  29. Mushaandja, J., Haihambo, C., Vergnani, T., & Frank, E. (2013). Major challenges facing teacher counsellors in schools in Namibia. Education Journal, 2(3), 77-84. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20130203.13
  30. Mthethwa, A. (2020). Teacher unions strengthen calls for schools to close mid Covid-19 peak. Daily Maverick, dated 15 July, 2021.
  31. Njilo, N. (2021). Will they or won’t they? Cyril says there is concern about reopening schools. Sunday Times dated 11 January, 2021.
  32. Nkosi, B. (2015). Motshekga blocks re-employment of thousands of teachers. Mail and Guardian, 8 April, 2015.
  33. Ngqakamba, S. (2020). Lockdown: It is back to school for teachers who were on leave due to comorbidities News 24 blog posted on 19 September 2020 and accessed in 02 January, 2021. https://www.news.com
  34. Ngqakamba, S. (2021). School reopening: A rundown of some of the headaches as 15 February looms. News 24, dated 11 February, 2021.
  35. News, S. A. (2020). Government is hiring 200,000 assistants to help in South Africa’s schools - how to apply. Business tech blog posted on 10 November, 2020. https://www.businesstech.co.za
  36. Payne, S. (2021). Schools will reopen on 27 January, as planned, says Department of Basic Education. Daily Maverick, dated 10 January 2021 accessed on 12 January, 2021. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za
  37. Plitnichenko, L. (2020). 10 Challenges of E-Learning during Covid-19. Jellyfish. Blog posted on 16 August 2020 and accessed on 16 August, 2021. https://www.jellyfish.tech.com
  38. Practical Theological Investigation of sex addiction in Gauteng. PhD thesis in Practical Theology, UNISA.
  39. Pragholapati, A. (2020). Covid-19 impact on students. https://doi.org/10.35542/osf.io/895ed
  40. Putri1, R. S., Purwanto, A., Pramono, R., Asbari, M., Wijayanti, L. M., & Hyun, C. C. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Online Home Learning: An Explorative Study of Primary Schools in Indonesia. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29(5), 4809-4818.
  41. Rapanta, C., Botturi, L., Goodyear, P., Gu`ardia L., & Koole, M. . (2020). Online university teaching during and after the covid-19 crisis: refocusing teacher presence and learning activity. Postdigital Science and Education, 2, 923-945. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-020-00155-y
  42. Reilly, K. (2020). This Is What It’s Like to Be a Teacher During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Time dated 26 August 2020 accessed on 12 January, 2021. https://www.time.com
  43. Serrao, A. (2014). 4000 teachers quit for pension payouts, accessed on 22 October, 2015. www.iol.co.za
  44. Shange, N. (2020). Looming crisis for education department as Covid-19 hits scores of teachers over festive period. Timeslive dated 20 December, 2020.
  45. Shilubana, M. (2018). Care and Support to sex addicts in the Evangelical Pentecostal Church.
  46. Sobuwa, Y. (2020). 20,000 teachers report comorbidities. Unwell educators add to basic education crisis. Sowetan, 01 July, 2020.
  47. Stapelberg, E. (2017). Exploration of a narrative pastoral approach to improve the lives of female teachers in the South African context. PhD with specialization in pastoral therapy, UNISA.
  48. Sukaina, I. (2020). Teachers facing strain coping with the reopening of schools amid Covid-19. Iol News blog posted on 16 July, 2020.
  49. Supriyanto, A., Hartini, S., Irdasari, W. N., Miftahul, A., & Mumpuni, S. D. (2020). Teacher professional quality: counselling services with technology in pandemic covid-19. Counsellia Journal Bimbingan dan Konseling, 10(2), 176-189. https://doi.org/10.25273/counsellia.v10i2.7768
  50. Steyn, T. H., & Masango, M. J. (2010). The theology and praxis of practical theology in the context of the faculty of theology. HTS Teologiese Studies, 67(2), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v67i2.956
  51. Shonisani, T. (2021). Covid-19 third wave causing ’panic and misery’ at Gauteng schools: Lesufi. Sowetan live dated 17 June, 2021. https://www.sowetanlive.co.za
  52. Santiveri, M., Roa-Eguiara, A., K¨uhne, C., Wadhwa, N., Berg, H. C., & Erhardt, M. Structure and function of stator units of the bacterial flagellar motor. Social Science Electronic Publishing. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3624470
  53. Tebogo, M. (2021). Covid-19: Basic education department facing vaccine hesitancy among teachers. News 24. Accessed on 05 June 2021.
  54. Williamson, B., Eynon, R., & Potter, J. (2020). Pandemic politics, pedagogies and practices: digital technologies and distance education during the coronavirus emergency. Learning Media and Technology, 45(2), 107-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2020.1761641
  55. Writer, S. (2021).Warning over teacher shortages and growing class sizes in South Africa. Businesstech dated 04 March, 2021.
  56. Writer, S. (2021). Union calls for temporary school closure in South Africa. Businesstech dated 21 June, 2021.