Aftermaths of the Post-Covid-19 Pandemic Experiences: Assessing and Repositioning South African Higher Education

Abstract

With the sudden advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted every sphere of our lives globally, higher education institutions across the world were grounded, and academic activities were seriously affected. The pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, did not only affect the Chinese education system but all other higher education institutions across the globe. The pandemic adversely impacted developing countries, especially African countries, where technological advancement continues to struggle. Various African higher education institutions have adopted several measures to continue teaching and learning activities in schools. South African higher education institutions were mostly grounded absolutely. However, after several months of academic stoppage, countermeasures were adopted to continue academic business amid the COVID-19 predicaments. This discursive study was driven by the author's lived experiences of academic observations and research during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, the author explores how higher education in South Africa has been affected and how the system can be repositioned for future challenges. The article recommends strategies that can be employed for academic activities in various higher education institutions in the event of a pandemic outbreak to mitigate a serious impact on the educational system. The study will also provide insights to strengthen the curriculum's implementation and practices, making students' learning needs more responsive beyond conventional classrooms.