Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Teaching and Learning Process:

Lessons Learned from Selected Secondary Schools in Kapiri- Mposhi District, Zambia.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions in education systems worldwide and Zambia has not been an exception. This study was carried out in selected secondary schools in Kapiri- Mposhi District in Zambia to examine the effects of the pandemic on teaching and learning in secondary schools and to highlight the lessons learned from the experience. Through a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews with teachers, students, and educational stakeholders, the study investigated the challenges faced during the pandemic, explored the strategies employed to mitigate the impact, and identified the key lessons learned for future educational preparedness. The findings of this study showed that overall the COVID-19 pandemic affected the teaching and learning process negatively in both urban and rural schools in Kapiri- Mposhi district. This study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges in teaching and learning for secondary school teachers in the district specifically and probably in Zambia in general. These new challenges are of different dimensions ranging from psychological, health, infrastructure, methods of teaching and learning to technology. Evidently, 59.9% to 90.9%) of the participants in this study revealed that COVID-19 had largely affected the teaching and learning process in the district negatively. Lessons learned encompass successful practices, innovative solutions, and areas for improvement. These lessons inform future educational practices, policies, and preparedness for similar crises. While Covid- 19 presented several challenges, there were likely many lessons learned.