SA education a victim of Covid pandemic; UK joins probe into Bain

A new report from the University of Stellenbosch claims that schoolchildren in South Africa have lost approximately 1.3 years of schooling since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic – equivalent to losing six and half years of learning progress, the researchers said. The researchers tested grade 3 learners in 2018 and grade 4 learners in 2021 and found that the average 10-year-old in 2021 knew less than the average 9-year-old in 2018. They said that South Africa was on an upward trajectory post-2006, but the pandemic has wiped out all progress on educational outcomes. Changes announced this week allow schools to return to full time teaching for the first time in almost two years.
More civil action groups are joining the battle against South Africa’s state of disaster, with non-profit DearSA joining Afriforum in its court bid to force the government to bring the state of disaster to an end. Following further easing of restrictions this week, citizen and business groups are increasingly belligerent over the government’s continued hold on civil liberties through Covid regulations. Business group Sakeliga is taking on Nedlac, seeking to expose the group’s role in key decisions and regulations relating to lockdown, vaccine mandates and potential conflicts of interest. The national state of disaster has been in effect for almost two full years and has allowed the government to restrict rights with no parliamentary oversight.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked the Cabinet Office to look into allegations that Bain & Co. was involved in corruption in SA. Hain had asked that Johnson freeze all government contracts with the global consultancy while SA prosecutors try to recoup money paid to the Boston-based company for a contract it had with SARS. Bain has denied wilfully facilitating or being party to corruption after the Zondo commission found its conduct wanting in dealings with state-owned firms. The inquiry found that Bain met with former President Jacob Zuma and former Sars commissioner Tom Moyane before it was signed up as a consultant, and it was clear it would be given a contract to revamp the tax agency’s systems before the start of the tender process.

Flash Briefing: SA education a victim of Covid pandemic; battle against state of disaster accelerating; UK joins probe into Bain

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