Persistent load shedding is having a severe consequence on both the economy and educational outcomes.
Although periodic bouts of load shedding have become the norm in South Africa, 2022 has been worse than normal with a record number of days of planned power cuts. This has had a dire impact on school learners, particularly the matric class of 2022.
Load shedding has meant that in some provinces, certain exams have started late. The most heavily affected subjects are computer applications technology (CAT) and information technology (IT). Reports reveal that at one school, a number of computers blew because of load shedding, in the process destroying the work of matric learners. The department of basic education has announced that students writing either the CAT or IT exams who were not able to write the exams as a result of load shedding will be given another opportunity to write the exams in December.
Many learners are also negatively impacted by load shedding at home which makes it harder to study for exams and – in lower grades – to complete their homework.
Load shedding also impacts traffic flow, making it harder for learners to arrive at school in time for exams.
All indications are that the situation will be worsening in the coming years rather than improving. In October Eskom released its medium-term system adequacy outlook which reveals that even with the addition of new generation capacity and improved power station performance, the power utility will not be able to fully meet the anticipated demand for electricity. The report’s worst case scenario predicts that the energy supply gap could be as much as 40% in the next five years.
It’s not only load shedding which is having an impact on educational outcomes. In Gauteng, service delivery protests in early November prevented more than 50 pupils in Etwatwa from writing their final matric exams. They will now only be able to write their missed papers in May or June next year. This means these students have essentially lost a year of their lives as they wait to complete their final matric exams.
The department of basic education has appealed to communities, civil society and other stakeholders to allow matric examinations to proceed.
Educational outcomes are also being impacted by what parents can afford to pay in terms of school fees. A random survey conducted by the Sunday Times recently revealed that Model C schools will be implementing fee increases of between 4.1% and 9.85% in 2023. While this is roughly in line with inflation – the consumer price index is around 7.5% – salary increases for most South Africans have been below inflation for some time already.
The rising cost of living, including higher fuel prices, rising interest rates and escalating inflation is also having an impact on the ability of parents to pay school fees timeously. For fee paying schools reliant on this income to keep their schools operational, this poses a significant risk to their financial sustainability. Back-up generators or a source of alternative energy come at a cost which many schools are not able to afford. However, given Eskom’s prospective future outlook, it appears that schools will have no choice but to invest in back-up energy sources or risk repeating the challenges faced by the matric class of 2022 in the years ahead.
About School-Days
School-Days is a rewards and incentives programme that helps parents and members of the public provide financial assistance to South African schools, whether their own or disadvantaged schools, by shopping with partner merchants known as School-Days Earn Partners, while still earning their normal retailer loyalty points.
The initiative started with the idea of raising funds by earning Edu-Time Points (ETPs), to help families pay towards their family’s school, college and university fees. The focus of the School-Days programmes has subsequently been extended to giving the public the opportunity to assist others and their Edu-Time Points allow them to choose to support up to two South African schools of their choice as beneficiaries; support disadvantaged schools by choosing the non-profit Adopt-a-School Foundation; or, as originally intended, use their Edu-Time Points (ETPs) to pay towards their child’s school, college or university fees.
For more information visit www.schoolddays.co.za
