Shock drop in school test marks in South Africa

The Western Cape Education Department has published its latest systemic test results, showing that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on learning and teaching in the country.
While schools have now returned to full-time attendance, the test results conducted in the Western Cape in October 2021 provide the clearest, internationally benchmarked and independent analysis of learning losses suffered by the learners in the province, said provincial minister of education Debbie Schäfer.
“While we are the only province to conduct such tests, it is an indication of what the effects of this pandemic are on learners across South Africa. Unfortunately, the results are dire.
“The 2021 results are seen in comparison to tests conducted in 2019, as testing could not take place in…