Within Southern Africa, most rural schools are in a dilapidated state. Consequently, these schools do not have the required physical infrastructure or vital facilities including sanitation, water, roads, transportation, electricity, and information and communication technology. Academic underachievement in rural regions can be attributed to the low socioeconomic status of their parents. Rural schools often lack sufficient funding, which hinders the teaching and learning process. Rural schools in remote and underdeveloped locations sometimes suffer from inadequate funding and neglect, resulting in a lack of essential teaching and learning resources. Consequently, many rural areas experience an unstable socioeconomic foundation, leading to a detrimental effect on the quality of schooling. The socioeconomic backdrop of a person’s household significantly influences their educational progress. Rural schools’ socioeconomic position immediately disadvantages children due to a lack of foundational books and learning resources. Rural schools often encounter challenges like a lack of infrastructure which risks safety and the efficiency of these educational facilities. The classrooms are in poor physical condition, with holes in the flooring, damaged roofs and ceilings, and inadequate facilities. Distance and large population have been recognized as obstacles that hinder and limit access to education in Africa. These obstacles hinder access to educational services, making them more challenging and exclusive. Rural education is impacted by the school’s location, curriculum, community services, and access to information technology, leading to disparities in rural schools. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified pre-existing educational inequality.