Straddling the South African Two-School System During the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Reflective Narrative of How One Student Teacher Traversed the Changing Education Landscape

Authors

Keywords:

COVID-19, teaching practice, novice teacher, mentoring, under-resourced schools

Abstract

The South African education system has been aptly described as a “two-school” education system. This description refers to one of the many legacies of apartheid, which resulted in one well-resourced school system that offers high quality education to one sector of the population, with the other under-resourced and generally struggling to achieve the same results. As part of my teacher training, I have worked in both systems. Straddling this dichotomous education system during the COVID-19 pandemic has given me valuable insights and has significantly contributed to how I envisage my career as a teacher. Through this narrative reflection I provide  an account of key moments during my teaching practice module that contributed to my altered worldview. Entering the teaching profession during the COVID-19 pandemic proved very challenging, but ironically, it was this disruptive entry that has changed my worldview so that I now feel drawn to working in under-resourced schools. 

Author Biographies

Cindy Sars, Matroos Holy Trinity RC Primary School

Cindy Sars, BEd is Post Level One Educator, Matroos Holy Trinity RC Primary School, Elsies River, Western Cape, South Africa (3803345@myuwc.ac.za).

Eugene Laloo, University of Wollongong

Eugene Laloo, MEMD is Lecturer, School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia (eal990@uowmail.edu.au).

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Published

2023-11-29

How to Cite

Sars, C., & Laloo, E. . (2023). Straddling the South African Two-School System During the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Reflective Narrative of How One Student Teacher Traversed the Changing Education Landscape. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 29(3), 60–68. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/2022

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