As many as half a million more children than expected have dropped out of school during the pandemic. According to the Department of Basic Education, there were approximately 13 million children in Grades 1 to 12 in South Africa.

When comparing household and learner attendance patterns of the 2018 General Household Survey, our next guest said that the Department estimates that 650,000 to 750,000 children aged 7 to 17 years old were not attending school by May 2021. This is an increase of approximately 400,000 to 500,000 when compared to pre-pandemic times and a decline in the attendance rate amongst this age group from 98% in 2018 to 94% in May 2021.

Learner dropout rates are now at the highest rate they have been since household surveys started to monitor it in 2002. School attendance is at the lowest level it has been in 20 years, the report says.

 

Guest on the line: Nompumelelo Mohohlwane – Deputy Director: Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Department of Basic Education

 

Guest on the line: Sanele Gamede – Author, Strategic Youth Life and Career Coach and PhD candidate at University of Kwa-Zulu Natal