First published online.
It is the end of an era for education in the Eastern Cape as the man responsible for upskilling some of the province’s most influential mathematics and technical teachers hangs his hat on a career spanning more than four decades.
Dr Vasuthavan Govender, the chief education specialist at the Nelson Mandela Provincial Teacher Development Institute, is serving his last offi...
In September 2022, Grade 12 learner Benjamin Kleyn, from Parel Vallei High School in Somerset West in the Western Cape, triumphed over 134 university students in the annual South African Tertiary Mathematics Olympiad (SATMO), organised by the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) and sponsored by Standard Bank.
Mathematics is a critical skill in today's world, yet many parents struggle to help their children with their homework. The @Home with Mathematics project will bridge this gap by empowering parents and caregivers with the skills and knowledge they need to support their children's learning. With funding support, the South African Mathematics Foundation can continue to connect communities and create...
On 12 May every year, the mathematics community celebrates the International Day of Women in Mathematics. The day commemorates the birthday of the Iranian mathematician and Fields Medal recipient Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017). Maryam is a role model for female mathematicians worldwide. One such mathematician is Dr Cerene Rathilal, a lecturer at the University of KwaZulu - Natal’s School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science.
In an effort to improve mathematics education in South Africa, the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) is working in partnership with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences’ Schools Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC), to provide extensive teacher training to help improve the country’s mathematics outcomes.
Nelisiwe Malamlela is a mathematics teacher at Matatiele Primary School in the Alfred Nzo West district of the Eastern Cape. The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC) awarded her for being the Top Senior Phase (Grades 7 – 9) Teacher in the Mathematical Thinking (MT) Course hosted by the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) and sponsored by Standard Bank from February to June 2022.
As a B3 NRF-rated(1) academic, Prof Kerstin Jordaan, the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) executive director, is one of only three B-rated female mathematicians in the country. The National Research Foundation (NRF) rating system (introduced in 1984) is a critical driver in the NRF's plan to build an internationally competing science system in South Africa. Prof Jordaan is only the fifth female in her field to receive this rating since 1984.
Learning about Mathematics is more than just learning to calculate numbers. Mathematics at school level develops children’s cognitive skills, their ability to abstract and think logically, and to think critically and solve problems across all areas of life.
On 19 June 2021 the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC) announced Bianca Chimanikire from the Leap Science and Maths School in Jane Furse, Sekhukhune East District, Limpopo as the top student for its 2021 Language and Communication to develop mathematical knowledge, understanding and skills for the 21st Century (LC SAMO 2) Online Course. The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) coordinated the training, which was sponsored by Old Mutual.
To make a tangible difference in mathematics education, the remuneration of teachers in this scarce-skill discipline will need attention. Attracting mathematically talented young people into the teaching profession is becoming increasingly difficult.
Mathematically skilled people worldwide get drawn into engineering, accountancy, actuarial science, and other scientific and financial professions. The time has come to reconsider ways to narrow the salary gap between careers in mathematics in corporate South Africa and that offered to mathematics teachers.
Several researchers studied the role of gamification in education. One such study reports that "today's learners are digital natives." They grew up with digital technologies. Therefore, teachers have to resolve critical issues related to adapting the learning process towards students with varied learning styles and new specifications for teaching and learning. Gamification is one of the pedagogical approaches and methods that boost the motivation and engagement of learners.
