Analysing the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 on students in a South African University

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt across all domains of society, including South Africa. Early in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, profoundly impacting every facet of social, economic, and cultural existence. The government's initial implementation of a lockdown strategy aimed at mitigating the transmission of the virus and reducing the rate of infection was first met with positive reception. However, as the duration of the lockdown persisted, and its consequences became apparent, inevitable adverse repercussions emerged. The country's higher education authorities decided to switch to online mode for the academic year, deviating from the conventional in-person teaching and learning method. The research aims to ascertain the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on students enrolled in South African universities. The study utilised a quantitative research design for its investigation, and the three secondary objectives play a significant role in facilitating the attainment of the fundamental aims. Purposive sampling was used, where the researcher gathered data from one hundred and ten respondents through questionnaires using Google Forms. The researcher adhered to all Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act-mandated ethical concerns and regulations. Before the study, ethics approval was acquired from the relevant ethics committee to ensure that ethical conduct was maintained throughout all phases of the study. A summary of the main results regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the higher education sector concluded the study. The quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Practical recommendations were provided on how universities must rethink and reimagine themselves to overcome future disruptions.