Page 50 - EDUCON 2022 Book of Abstracts

the system of teaching from familiar face-to-face teaching to virtual or
online teaching which the teachers are not prepared for.
Aim: This study aims at investigating the challenges of teaching
Natural Science during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Katima Mulilo
Circuit.
Methodology: The study employed an exploratory qualitative
research approach using the interview as a research instrument to
gather in-depth data on the challenges teachers face when teaching
Natural Science during the covid-19 pandemic in KMC from the
participants' viewpoint. The maximum purposive sampling was used
to select 6 Natural Science teachers from 2 selected primary schools in
Katima Mulilo Circuit to participate in the study.
Results: Major challenges affected Natural Science teaching during
the COVID-19 pandemic include high absenteeism by teachers and
learners due to fear of contracting COVID-19, poor internet access in
rural school’s lack of large classrooms to permit social distancing,
increased workload of teachers, teachers’ resignations, less time to
cover the scheme of work, lack of parental support, difficulties to
enforcing COVID-19 regulations among others.
Conclusion and Recommendations: The identified challenges of
teaching Natural Science during the Covid-19 pandemic notably were,
lack of skills and devices, poor internet access, lack of textbooks for
learners, and lack of parental support could have serious implications
for teacher’s effectiveness, especially during such pandemic which the
teachers are not prepared to handle.
Keywords: COVID-19, online teaching, learning, Natural Science

38