The Importance of Lifelong Learning During and After COVID 19 Global Pandemic

Abstract

The importance of lifelong Learning during the outbreak of COVID 19, which originated from the Wahun in China, proved that it was important for people to continually learn. The pandemic changed the way how people conduct their lives because they have to keep themselves safe from getting infected by the fatal virus. It is important to note that the people who attach value on learning often continually inform themselves about the dangers that are imposed in their lives, such as in the event that a pandemic besiege their milieus in the manner that COVID 19 did. It is important to note that in Botswana the information about the pandemic and what the people needed to do to avoid getting infected was promulgated through various mediums, such as national television broadcasts, national and private radio stations and both government and private newspapers. It proved that the culture of learning is highly important when pandemics are experienced, because people who learn on a continuous basis often get important information timely about their lives, than those who are illiterate and attach little to no value on learning. The zeal to learn is highly beneficial as it makes the people to gather important information about their lives, which include learning about emerging infections such as COVID 19 and the impact that is normally occasioned by the outbreaks.

The crucial point that is raised through this paper calls for governments, private sector and parastatals to expend resources for lifelong learning programmes, with much emphasis in the training of adults who are often not readily catered for, when having missed on the opportunities that are availed for the younger population in formal education.

Lifelong learning programmes should be made to characterise communities at all costs through government and private sector spending, so that people can take learning as an investment  that can save their lives, such as in the event that there is an outbreak. COVID 19 requires people to stay informed and the culture of learning to characterise their existence.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-36-17

Publication date: December 31^st 2020