Support maths tuition

THE Maths 100 Foundation, an NGO dedicated to improving the understanding and performance of pupils as well as standards of mathematics in high schools across South Africa, needs support.

Cheryl Maiden from Maths 100 Foundation said few would deny the importance of good maths skills in the modern world.

“Our country has a massive shortfall in the mathematical skills required for many careers, including engineering. A shortage of skilled high school maths teachers is compounding this. There is a massive disparity in the way maths is delivered in the classroom between leafy suburb and rural schools,” she said.

Cheryl said students in rural schools can work in classes of 60 to 70 and often have teachers who are not qualified to teach high school maths, or frequent changes in teachers as well as gaps when there is no one suitable to teach this critical subject as these schools cannot always find and/or retain good teachers.

“These are a few, but not all, the problems faced by pupils at non fee paying schools. It is a recipe for future disaster in South Africa,” said Cheryl.

She said from the pupil’s point of view, many career doors are firmly closed when a school leaver has a low or failed maths mark. Some get just over the required low pass mark, get into university to find they cannot cope. The universities battle with the range of abilities in first year and effectively, learning is slowed to accommodate weaker pupils or the dropout rate is high.

“This is not to moan about a situation which cannot be fixed overnight. It is a situation which affects each and every one of us as well as our children. This is a plea for each of you, whether as a company director or an individual, to help secure our future. There are currently pupils who are potentially competent mathematicians and who are keen to work in their own time to improve their skills. In a perfect world they would take on supplementary maths to improve. However, there are many who are not able to go this route as finances do not allow it,” said Cheryl.

She said the Maths 100 Foundation's work involves both pupils and teachers and the NGO works with the best schools as well as those needing support.

“Ours is a long term project. We believe that with help we can start changing South Africa’s future right now. Maths 100 can part subsidise some of these pupils. We cannot, however, do it alone. We are looking for partners who will help with specific named pupils or groups of specific pupils, to enable them to achieve a good working understanding of maths,” said Cheryl.

If you can help with this initiative, contact the Maths 100 Foundation via email at maths100@ledom.co.za or 0606 733 654.