More motivation to get the vaccine

Few people are unaware of the damage Covid has done to the world. But, the number of infections, death tolls and the gigantic cost to overwhelmed health systems tell only part of the story.

The real damage done, to the youth of today, may only emerge in years – or decades.

Lifetime earnings for those in school now – and whose education has been badly disrupted over the past year and a half – could be as much as 5% lower on average. And, as is the case with global inequalities across the spectrum, the impact on those in developing countries could be even higher.

According to basic education minister Angie Motshekga, between 50% and 75% of learning in South African schools could have been “lost” because of Covid and its associated lockdowns and school closures. She says the pandemic has nullified what gains our educational system has made over the past 20 years.

Professor Martin Gustafsson from Stellenbosch University’s economics department says it is “impossible” to recover the learning lost, and the challenge now is to minimise the losses.

Although Motshekga has not gone as far as cancel- ling the October holidays – which will be a valuable breather for both staff and pupils – the probability is that time off will have to be curtailed in some other way as learning hours need to be increased to compensate for the lost lessons.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, we would suggest that the need to normalise our society – for our children’s sake – provides yet another strong motivation for people to get vaccinated.

Reducing infections and hospitalisations, as well as deaths, will allow the lifting of restrictions.

Schools will be able to return to normal and teachers and pupils will again be able to focus their full attention on the curriculum.