Africa’s COVID-19 case counts crossed 250,000 this week – with more than 110,000 recoveries & about 6,750 deaths, even as many countries have already started a phased reopening of businesses and education institutions. Ten countries are currently driving Africa’s epidemic, accounting for 75 percent of the cases confirmed so far. Some of these countries have sizeable student mobility, such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Congo DR, and Kenya. Africa braced itself for a sharp economic downturn, but experts say that despite the inevitable recession, the pandemic created a unique opportunity for growth of small businesses and decentralization of governance in the region. Meanwhile, the crisis also exposed the digital divide in African countries where quality distance learning is not accessible to all. Governments are looking for ways to reduce the education financing gaps which have now taken a turn for the worse.

COVID19- Case Counts

The COVID-19 situation differs across the continent. The details of affected regions as on June 17, 2020 are given below:

Major Markets for Canadian Institutions

While ICEF Monitor cites four major growth markets to look out for, viz. Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya (for details on why these markets are likely to grow in the coming years, please refer to our last mailer on Africa dated 4^th June), major markets in Africa for Canadian institutions are:

News from NORTH AFRICA

Algeria – Algeria relaxed its lockdown on June 14^th, shortening curfew in 29 provinces and ending it in 19 provinces where coronavirus counts are low. 

Egypt – The country will remain under partial lockdown for the coming several weeks, with a shortened night-time curfew and longer work hours for retail. Tourism and flights to coastal cities with low coronavirus case counts will resume from July. Final year high-school exams will be conducted shortly, but students can postpone their exams to next year if they are quarantined or have a medical certificate.

Morocco – Morocco started a phased easing of restrictive measures and will lift the state of emergency on July 10^th.

News from EAST AFRICA

Kenya – Kenya extended a ban on public gatherings till the first week of July to curb spread of coronavirus, even while travel to and from capital Nairobi and counties of Mombasa and Mandera continues.

Mauritius – Mauritius lifted its lockdown on May 30^th. Last coronavirus case in the island nation was recorded on April 26^th and all the remaining 322 cases have recovered.   

DR Congo – The country is under lockdown. Schools remain closed. Hundreds of demonstrators in DRC’s capital city are protesting against lockdown measures.

News from WEST AFRICA

Ghana – Ghana is keeping its borders closed but easing restrictions. Final year students in universities will resume classes on June 15^th, senior high school students on June 22^nd and junior high school students on June 29^th.

Nigeria – Phase two of the lockdown will last about one month, from June 2^nd to June 29^th. The country will be under a partial lockdown, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Domestic flights will resume from 21^st June. Schools remain closed but the government is considering reopening schools. Exams may be conducted in the early phases of the next lockdown. Despite a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, another total lockdown is unlikely, according to news reports.

Cameroon – Cameroon eased its lockdown on June 1^st. Classes in schools and universities were also resumed earlier this month.

Ivory Coast – After months of lockdown, Ivory Coast eased lockdown and allowed schools to open on May 25^th.

News from SOUTHERN AFRICA

South Africa – The Government is looking to open more sectors in the ‘advanced level 3 lockdown’. Final year students in primary and secondary schools returned to school on June 8^th.

Zambia – The country is in a partial lockdown with commercial activities being allowed to operate in least affected areas. Students were back in schools on June 1^st after nearly two months of lockdown.

WWEC Initiatives

To resolve immigration-related queries of prospective students and applicants, especially when uncertainties around cross-border travel abound, Maple Assist has arranged for an Instagram Live series on Canadian immigration for international students. In our first session of the series held on June 12^th, we invited Josh Schachnow, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer and CEO of Visto, to answer queries and advise prospective students on study permits and travel guides in the pandemic situation.  Over 400 participants shared their questions and concerns with our guest speaker. Seeing the overwhelming response, we will be also be launching follow-up online sessions in coming weeks for prospective applicants, in addition to doing some sessions for current students in Canada around the Post-graduate Work Permit (PGWP) and job opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic.

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