COVID-19 and Marist Mission on the African continent

In Africa, as in many parts of the world, the Marist life is facing a especial moment because the Covid-19. A report on the impact of the pandemic, particularly on school activities, was presented by the members of the African Mission Commission, who met last 23 October.

Nigeria

Schools were closed from March and the Province promoted e-learning via zoom. In some instances, students from the poor homes who could not have access to the online activities followed the teachers in schools. Other means used were WhatsApp and emails.

Currently the schools are all in session, but the academic calendar differs in different states. The exit students are still in school and the new students are waiting to resume but the current protests in the country call for caution.

West Africa District

Students are still at home in Ghana.  Only exit students were allowed to return for the exit exams. The government tried to implement e-Learning, but it did not work since schools were not connected to the internet in the rural areas. The situation has been tough on the Brothers communities and the schools. Schools may resume fully in Ghana in January 2021. Other countries like Ivory Coast, Liberia, Tchad are having the schools running normal. Cameroon is yet to reopen schools because of the current crises in the part where Marist schools are located.

Southern Africa

Schools were abruptly closed in all the countries of the Province in March and that did not go well with the parents and teachers. Online platform was not readily available and in places where they were available, the cost or the affordability was another cause of worry, limiting its usage. 

Currently schools are in session in the AU.  Schools are employing different strategies to try to meet up the curricular activities for the time lost.

PACE

They are currently in a new school year in many parts of the Province. DRC is witnessing a protest from teachers in the public schools for lack of salary. Only private schools are running. Kenya has just resumed schools but not fully, schools are ongoing in Rwanda. Tanzania never closed schools because the president declared the country Covid-19 free from the beginning. No information on Central African Republic.