Teaching in a Pandemic: An Exploratory Study into University Instructors’ Perceptions of Workfrom-Home Opportunities and Challenges during the COVID-19 Lockdown in South Africa
| dc.contributor.author | Badaru, Kazeem Ajasa 0000-0002-3372-8220 | |
| dc.contributor.author | Adu, Kemi Olajumoke 0000-0002-7787-0157 | |
| dc.contributor.author | Adu, Emmanuel Olusola 0000-0003-1345-5517 | |
| dc.contributor.author | Duku, Ntombozuko 0000-0002-2897-5091 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-02-11T07:32:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-02-11T07:32:09Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-07-28 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Recent studies have investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, organisations, and education in South Africa. However, research on the work-from-home opportunities and challenges during the COVID-19 lockdown is still scarce in the context of South Africa. This study, therefore, explored university instructors’ perceptions of work-from-home opportunities and challenges in South Africa. Thstudy, guided by the SWOT analysis as the theoretical framework, was located within the qualitative research paradigm. It leveraged a sample of ten academics drawn from the Faculty of Education at a rural-based university using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview and analysis was thematically performed. The findings revealed that WFH arrangements offered opportunities for working from home without incurring the cost of travelling, saved commuting time, provided new ways of teaching and learning with evolving digital platforms, and allowed for prioritising of time for self-development and relaxation. WFH challenges included social isolation, disconnection from colleagues, fatigue from performing monotonous routines daily, inadequate data, and poor internet connectivity. Thus, the study recommends the provision of internet facility support and technological training of academic staff of universities on innovative and pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning for blended and/or online teaching in preparation for any similar disruption of education in the future. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Adu EO; Badaru KA; Adu K; Duku NL (2022): Teaching in a Pandemic: An Exploratory Study into University Instructors’ Perceptions of Work from-Home Opportunities and Challenges during the COVID-19 Lockdown in South Africa: International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 21(7). https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.21.7.15 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1694-2116 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/3685 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Society for Research and Knowledge Management | |
| dc.subject | work-from-home | |
| dc.subject | university instructors | |
| dc.subject | COVID-19 lockdown | |
| dc.subject | use of technology | |
| dc.subject | pandemic | |
| dc.title | Teaching in a Pandemic: An Exploratory Study into University Instructors’ Perceptions of Workfrom-Home Opportunities and Challenges during the COVID-19 Lockdown in South Africa | |
| dc.type | Article |