VIDEO: We should all be concerned about the impact of school closures on dropout

Zero Dropout Campaign Programme Director Merle Mansfield speaks to eNCA anchor Jane Dutton about Cabinet’s decision to suspend classes for four weeks.

Mansfield says that protracted school closures drive disengagement among learners, making them even more vulnerable to dropout in a country where dropout rates are not properly tracked.

Mansfield says that disruptions at home, at school and in communities affect a child’s ability to stay in and succeed at school.

The scale of the economic, social and health disruptions of the pandemic are highlighted in a newly-released NIDS-CRAM survey, demonstrating the need for psychosocial support for learners.