Leadership Challenges

in Managing Timetabling

Broadcast date: 10 October 2020

Alternating days

A recent survey found that, nationally, 11% of schools are struggling to construct a timetable that accommodates the realities of teaching during Covid-19. On the ground, this figure could be even higher.

The Department of Basic Education’s suggestion that class sizes be reduced by 50% to ensure social distancing has largely meant that children are taught on alternating days. This has serious timetabling implications.

These circumstances become even more problematic when teachers are forced to be absent from class, either because they have comorbidities, or because they have been exposed to or infected with Covid-19. It’s no wonder that school leaders are battling to construct timetables that are realistic for the time and the number of teachers available.

But this is not to suggest that alternative approaches aren’t being developed – and successful ones at that. Some schools are sticking to their normal timetables, but splitting their classes in two so that teachers teach the same lesson twice a day.

While this approach still has its problems, it has allowed teachers to keep up with the curriculum while still adhering to Covid-19 SOPs.

Read the blog about this topic here.