Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on South African Higher Education Systems Prior To, During, and After the Pandemic

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic posed severe problems to the educational systems globally and South African higher education systems specifically. Schools, colleges, and universities in more than one hundred countries worldwide were closed for an extended period to prevent the pandemic from spreading. The closure of schools, colleges, and universities affected more than a billion students due to the lockdown. This research examines the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on South African higher education systems. The study reviews empirical evidence on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the education systems in South Africa. This study provides a systematic review of evidence-based research on the effects of the COVID- 19 pandemic on the education systems in South Africa. Results indicate diverse adverse health, psychological, academic, emotional, and financial effects. Specific measures that could reduce future impacts in case of a recurrence of such a pandemic were also identified.