The study examined the impact of coursework-only assessment, as made necessary at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, adopting a quantitative research approach with 1013 students. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 27.0 to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed significant differences between the 2019- and 2020 marks for the same courses. In two of the science courses (T2 and T3), the mean scores for 2019 were significantly higher than the mean scores for 2020. In the mathematics course, the 2020 marks were significantly higher than the marks for 2019. While a normal distribution was assumed for the science courses, the mathematic course showed marks that were skewed to the right. A higher number of distinctions in the F1 course and a significant decline in the mean scores for T1 and T2 implies that there is a need for professional development of lecturers teaching in the online space. It is, therefore, recommended that higher education lecturers need adequate professional development on setting and administering online assessments. The assessment should test adequate lower- and higher-order cognitive skills for sufficient testing of student knowledge during online assessments. Furthermore, a variety of assessment methods and a diversity of tasks may be used to ensure the reliability of the assessment outcomes.

This study aims to explore how mentor teachers and the school environment helped pre-service teachers develop their pedagogical skills, and thereby, closing the gap between theory and practice. The study is based on a survey research design consisting of 75 participants consisting of third and final year students at a research and teaching university in South Africa. The participants completed a Google survey questionnaire where responses were given on a five-point Likert scale from strongly disagree, to strongly agree. The results indicate that although most preservice teachers received the necessary guidance in theory and practical lessons as well as assessment, a significant proportion of the participants were not adequately assisted. A large proportion of the schools did not have laboratories, laboratory equipment, and chemicals. The study has practical implications for the professional development of teachers of science before service. There is dire need for all science pre-service teachers to be adequately developed by selecting the appropriate context in which the teaching practice is done to develop the knowledge, science specific pedagogical skills, and values necessary for successful entry into a professional career Furthermore, mentor teachers need to be properly oriented about their mentoring roles, and the school management team must assist in monitoring the mentoring process.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the prohibition of gatherings threatened the education process. Learning institutions had to close. Instead, institutions had to opt for virtual teaching methods. This study investigates the implications of coronavirus-induced e-Learning on university education. As such, the main objective of the study was to determine the perceptions of the students about Covid-19-induced e-Learning. A survey design with 357 university students underpins the study. The students felt that the e-Learning platforms had interaction limitations and required more resources, making it more expensive. They also perceived face-to-face classes to be better than online classes, negatively affecting their performance. Students experienced challenges with e-Learning platforms, such as lack of electricity, lack of resources and information technology skills, and an unconducive home environment. The study recommends that universities adopt a blended approach, provide students with relevant devices and data, and provide prerecorded lecture audio. The study also recommends that the e-Learning platforms be made more user-friendly. Institutions should also provide adequate technical support to lecturers and students to improve the effectiveness of online teaching and learning effectiveness.

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Background: School Nutritional Programmes (SNP) provide meals at school to reduce hunger, nutrient deficiencies and improve class alertness among children in poor communities. The purpose of the research was to determine the challenges encountered in implementing the SNP in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa in 2017.Design and methods: A cross-sectional study underpinned by a concurrent triangulation research design where interviews were used to collect qualitative data from stakeholders, and a questionnaire collected quantitative data from students. The set of qualitative data was thematically analysed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD test were used to compare the mean scores for food quality on different days of the week.Results: Both the quality and quantity of food were affected by delays in payment of food suppliers, lack of training of stakeholders, and poor kitchen facilities. Health problems experienced by students after eating the food made them reluctant to consume meals on some days. The Tukey HSD test indicated that the mean score for the quality of food served on Wednesday (3.2±1.3) was significantly higher than the mean score for the quality of the meal served on Friday (2.5±1.3).Conclusions: Late payment of food-suppliers and inadequate training of food-handlers affected the quality and quantity of the meals. The researcher recommends that the programme administrators should improve the frequency of payment for food suppliers, training of food handlers, and find alternative meals for students who do not consume the regular meals due to various reasons.