Lockdown lessons for futureproofing education

Online learning has provided many South African students with the opportunity to stay on top of their schoolwork during the Covid-19 lockdown. This has shifted the responsibility of learning from teachers and schools, to students and families. With the planned phasing in of the school year, following on from Covid-19 restrictions, the lessons learned from lockdown will influence education moving forward.

“This is an opportunity to use this time to relook at the way we do things; to determine the good things we want to keep and the things that aren’t working that we should stop doing,” says Rebecca Pretorius, country manager for Crimson Education, a university admissions support consultancy.

Pretorius believes that schools will continue with forms of blended learning for the foreseeable future. “The lockdown has forced the education sector to rethink its strategies for remote and digital learning going forward. By using distance learning tools, we’ll see students, teachers, parents, and carers develop new skills to communicate and collaborate differently.” 

She highlights some of the valuable lessons from the lockdown that parents and students can carry forward as schools return: 

  • Individualised learning: School classrooms are designed to go at the pace of an average student, not considering individualised learning styles and pace. Those learning online are working at their own pace, covering additional work, and using newfound time to learn new skills not previously covered in class. 
  • Digital literacy: A major part of the shift in education is the integration of technology. Digital literacy is an essential skill moving forward. With social media completely embedded in their lives as a way of both communicating, accessing, and putting out information, learning online is a way to build safety into their everyday online usage.
  • Flexibility in the curriculum: Students and families have seen the value of a flexible education approach with students able to work at their own pace; cover additional work, focus more on their interests and passions, and even take more challenging subjects and curricula. Schools, businesses, and institutions then that can support this approach will be well positioned for the future.
  • The role of teachers: With students being able to gain access to knowledge, and even learn a technical skill, through a few clicks on their phones, tablets and computers, the role of the educator in the classroom and lecture room is redefined. The role of educators will move towards facilitating young people’s development as contributing members of society.

Crimson Education will launch the local arm of their online high school in September. The Crimson Global Academy will help students meet their individual needs and achieve their full potential through the internationally recognised, academically rigorous A-level qualification with, world class teachers; small classes; synchronous learning; flexible class scheduling; one-to-one support, and a wide variety of examination and testing options.  

With a presence in 30 cities, the company launched in South Africa in 2018. Crimson supports students applying to universities in the US, UK, Europe and China. They also offer regular webinars with experts, former Ivy League admissions officers, and Crimson alumni on a range of relevant admission topics. For more information, visit www.crimsoneducation.org or [email protected].

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Discover the Future of Kids’ Safety and Connectivity — Meet the Freedom 2

It’s a Saturday morning at a bustling shopping mall in Johannesburg. Little Thando, full of curiosity, wanders off while his mom browses the toy aisle. In seconds, panic sets in — that heart-stopping moment every parent dreads. But unlike most stories, this one ends differently. Thando’s mom opens the Freedom 2 app, taps “Locate”, and within moments, she sees his exact position — just outside a nearby store. Relief floods over her as she spots him, still holding his ice cream, completely unaware of the worry he caused.

In a country like South Africa, where safety is always top of mind, the Freedom 2 isn’t just a gadget — it’s peace of mind on your child’s wrist. With increasing concerns about public safety, this smartwatch gives parents a practical way to stay connected and prevent tragedy before it happens.

✅ Why the Freedom 2 is a Must-Have

If you’re looking to give your child both freedom and safety, the Freedom 2 by Fabulously Fit is a standout. Designed with parents and kids in mind, this smart watch blends advanced technology with kid-friendly features — providing peace of mind for you and fun for them.

1. Stay Connected Anytime, Anywhere

With full 4G support, the Freedom 2 enables 2-way voice calls, video calls, text messaging, and even WhatsApp — letting your child reach you instantly, and you keep tabs on them with ease. 

2. Precision GPS Tracking for Added Safety

This smartwatch uses GPS + AGPS + LBS + WiFi to track your child’s position with 5–15 metre accuracy. Set up geo-fences — get alerts when your child enters or leaves a safe zone. Review their route playback. Activate an SOS alert if they need help. All this gives you real-time confidence. 

3. Dual Cameras, Smart Tools & Kid-Friendly Features

Your child can snap photos or make video calls with a dual-camera setup. The watch also includes smart tools: WhatsApp, MP4 player, voice recorder, class-schedule tracker, math games — blending safety with learning and fun. 

4. Durable Performance & Long Battery Life

Built on Android 4.4 with 2 GB RAM + 4 GB ROM, a Nano-SIM slot for connectivity, and a robust 1 000 mAh polymer battery. It also features a 1.69″ IPS colour touchscreen (240×280 pixels) and modes for vibration, voice or silent notification — ideal for in-class use without distraction. 

5. Designed with Kids in Mind

A “No Disturb” mode ensures the watch won’t interrupt learning time. A pedometer and sleep monitor support wellness tracking. Remote monitor and remote shutdown features let you discreetly check that everything’s okay. 

🎯 Why It Matters for Your Family

Modern parenting comes with a tough dilemma — you want your child to stay connected and safe, but you don’t want to hand them a smartphone too soon. Too much screen time, access to social media, and unrestricted internet exposure can harm focus, sleep, and emotional wellbeing.

The Freedom 2 offers the perfect balance. It gives parents the ability to call, message, and locate their child instantly — without placing a smartphone in their hands. Your child gets independence and responsibility; you get reassurance and control. It’s connection with boundaries — the healthy middle ground every family needs.

🛍 Get Yours Now

Available in Blue, Pink, and Black, the Freedom 2 is ready to become your child’s everyday companion.

Shop now at Be a Boffin 

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How to Replace Screen Time with Foundational Reading Skills

Most parents are very aware that too much screen time for young children isn’t a good thing, but many are just as uncertain about what exactly the problem is and, importantly, how time can be more constructively spent without it becoming an additional daily burden adding to the stress of the adults.

“Taking the guesswork out of quality family interaction, which also assists in the development of the child, is half the battle won,” says Barbara Eaton, Academic Development Advisor for the Pre-Primary Schools Division at ADvTECH, Africa’s largest private education provider.

Eaton says parents who rely on some screen time to get a bit of a breather shouldn’t feel guilty, but adds that they should ensure they also spend time every day connecting with their children through activities. Activities, which are both fun and will aid the cementing of the skills they will require for reading success in future, can be woven into the daily routine.

“We are constantly researching improved methods of teaching foundational reading skills from Grade 000,” says Eaton.

“Research into the reading brain indicates that 40% of children learn to read easily, but 40% of children are at risk and 20% at severe risk. Over twenty thousand studies of children failing at reading in the USA indicated that the bottom 40% of readers lack phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear, identify and manipulate individual phonemes – the smallest unit of sound in the spoken word.”

Eaton says the human brain is wired for developing spoken language which is why, with good personal interaction, babies develop speech from an early age without intentional teaching.

“But there is no automatic brain wiring for reading and spelling, so all aspects of these skills need to be taught systematically and explicitly. Modern life has increasingly seen young children spend significant amounts of time in front of screens, which focus their brains on visual more than auditory content.

“The major problem with screen time is that much of the spoken content of what they watch is too fast and often indistinct, making them less likely to concentrate on it. This has impacted on the development of accurate listening skills.”

This all sounds quite negative, but the good news is that brain repair and the re-routing and development of neurons are possible and that with correct teaching, the children who would have learned to read easily will read at a higher level while the ‘at risk’ children will be able to read well.

So how can parents help their children?

1 – BY TALKING AND LISTENING

“In these days of digital media, we are talking less to each other and much of the communication taking place is instructive: ‘It’s time to bath. Pick up your clothes” etc. Instead, try to focus on generating discussions, for instance talk about the highs and lows of your day; introduce topics such as, ‘if you could do anything you wanted, what would it be and why’, ‘tell us about the best thing you saw today’.”

Eaton says it is important to ask open-ended questions (which don’t have a yes or no response), to elicit full answers. Dads are especially good at this!

2 – BY READING TO THEIR CHILD

Read both fiction and factual books from a very young age and join the library to give a wider choice. Choose quality stories that link to your child’s interests, not just Disney ones, Eaton advises.

“Let your child see you reading books and magazines. When you read a menu, shopping list, or road sign, involve your child and discuss how wonderful it is to be able to read and understand the information around you.”

3 – BY SINGING AND RECITING

Sing songs, recite rhymes together and read poems.

“Rhyming is such an important pre-reading skill, but fewer and fewer children learn any rhymes at home. Nursery rhymes are basically historical nonsense but children love them and they are easy to memorise,” Eaton says.

4 – PLAY WITH WORDS

Play with compound words – breaking popcorn into pop and corn, fishtank into fish and tank etc. They make good car games, and make a walk to the shops shorter and more fun. I Spy is another fun favourite but use the sound at the beginning of the word, not the name of the letter. Cat starts with ‘c’ not CEE.

Eaton says activities as listed above should be fun for adults and child, and should not become another chore for parents, but rather an easy, entertaining way to connect as they go through their usual routine in the morning and the evening.

Additionally, to build solid listening skills, parents should not repeat instructions and comments, as this programmes a child not to listen the first time.

“Parents should make eye contact (lower the phone!),  and pay attention to what their child is saying so that they model the desired listening behaviour. Above all, be excited about your child’s developing language and literacy skills.

“Investing quality time in your children can be achieved by including them in daily routines. Complementing this time with activities such as the above can make a tremendous impact on setting a child on the path to their own personal academic excellence,” she says.

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Getting your Gen Z child through the stresses of Matric

As parents, we often think that because we once wrote Matric exams ourselves, we are perfectly capable of supporting our child through the biggest trial of their education so far. The trick however, is to be mindful of the vast generational gap that exists between our children and ourselves. Our kids are going to experience the upcoming Matric exams quite differently from the way we did. And if we’re going to be able to help them, we need to understand their generation as well as we possibly can.

The ABCs of Gen Z

Gen Z refers to those children/teenagers born between 1995 and 2009 and as with all other generations, this cohort has distinct strengths and weaknesses. 

In broad strokes: the positive traits that Gen Z have on their side include higher IQs than Baby Boomers, greater ambition than Millennials and a well-developed sense of responsibility.

Gen Z are also the first generation to be been entirely digitally immersed and are often referred to as ‘Digital Natives’. They simply can’t imagine a world without smartphones, Google and WiFi (a kid with a device permanently in hand is something every Gen Z parent can relate to). Gen Z’ers prefer almost everything that is digitally presented and are highly adept at discovering and learning on their own.  

A different kind of learning

For most parents, learning means sitting diligently at a desk poring over textbooks. However, your Gen Z child will most probably prefer to do a lot of studying for their Matric exams sprawled on the couch and watching videos of their favourite YouTube teachers. Gen Z’ers also have a tendency towards social learning and can readily turn an online chat with friends into a peer-learning classroom. “Parents of the current Matric cohort need a real understanding of how their child learns best,” says Lauren Martin, Counselling Psychologist and Head of Teaching and Learning at SACAP (The South African College of Applied Psychology).  “You don’t want to make the mistake of shutting down or getting in the way of what is highly effective learning for them because you have misinterpreted what they might be doing on YouTube or on FaceTime. Gen Z learns differently from other generations, and they need different parental awareness and support. If a parent is helping or monitoring their child’s study plan, they need to support space in the timetable for digital and social learning.”

Digital multi-taskers

Another generational anomaly (and potential minefield) is Gen Z’s uncanny ability to digitally multi-task. They can watch TV, quickly post on Instagram while having a WhatsApp conversation with five friends, Google something on their laptop and make long-hand notes simultaneously. It’s the kind of multi-tasking that brings on anxiety and despair for other generations, but Gen Z – with their short attention spans and tech-savviness – take it in their cyber stride.

The upshot is that parents, who for the most part view multitasking as a negative, try to curb their teen’s many-at-once habits. “During the Matric exams, parents typically want to limit distractions to sharpen the focus on studying,” says Martin. “This is a challenge for Gen Z students who have a different perception of what constitutes a ‘distraction’. It’s important for parents to have a clear view of their child’s real competencies and allow them to plan for their Matric study time in the ways that work best for them. You can’t forget that they will most likely prepare best by doing some things very differently to the way you did them.”


The weak spots to watch

Gen Z reports higher levels of anxiety and depression. This is a generation shaped by being born into a perilous world of economic recession, rising terrorism and major global environmental threats. They are predisposed to worry and feeling chronically unsafe. Mental health issues amongst Gen Z are prevalent. “Helping to manage stress might well be the greatest thing a parent can do support their child through this Matric year,” says Jogini Packery, Counselling Psychologist and Head of Student Services at SACAP. “This starts with managing their own stress so that they can model dealing well with strong emotions and a tense life circumstance. Maintaining balance and facilitating effective stress relief will go a long way to soothe high anxiety. Often Gen Z does not get out enough. All of their screen time means less time on the beach or going for a run, cycle or a walk with the dogs. Physical activity stimulates the endorphins that help to keep anxiety and depression in check. If a parent is giving input on a study plan they should check out the downtime and see where they can encourage and share in healthy physical activities that deliver important stress relief.”

For any matriculant who is interested in the field of psychology, counselling or Human Resource Management, SACAP offers a wide range of qualifications (including Higher Certificate, Diploma, BAppSocSci (Majoring in Psychology and counselling), BAppSocSci (Majoring in Psychology and Human Resource Management) BPsych, BSocSci Honours and BPsych Equivalent) and a one-of-a-kind approach to learning: academic rigour and applied skills. Graduating confident skilled practitioners is key, which is why SACAP combines an academically rigorous curriculum with a strong emphasis on the ability to apply knowledge through the training of relevant skills. Registration for 2019 term one, closes at the end of January 2019. For further information, visit: https://www.sacap.edu.za/matric-campaign/

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