Mathematics project empowers learners and parents

A group of graduates initiated a project called WeSolve4X to assist learners to improve in mathematics while gearing up parental involvement and empowering parents to have an upper hand in their children’s academics.

The programme focuses on equipping parents to assist their children with maths, monitor their academics, based on the annual teaching plan, and ultimately help learners improve.

WeSolve4X was initiated in 2017 by 15 founding members to readdress the reoccurring challenges, mainly in public schools.

The CEO and actuarial analyst of WeSolve4X Tsietsi Ngobese (27) also completed his basic education in a public school.

Born and raised in Extension Six, Katlehong, he moved to the Free State in 2013 to further his studies in actuarial science at the University of Free State.

“While I was studying, we had programmes where we would go and teach children maths during university breaks between 2013 and 2017. As we taught, we realised that the same challenges we experienced while we were still in school are the same challenges other institutions face,” said Ngobese.

“Some teachers were not invested in our learning and that affected us; hence, you find that our public schools have a high rate of dropouts and many learners do not finish on record time,” he said.

“Other students and I found that in the first two years in university, we were learning what we were supposed to learn in high school,” he added.

He explained that it took him five years to complete a three-year course because he was struggling with some modules.

Ngobese said with their experience and understanding of the challenges, they had to find a way to ensure that the next coming wave of learners do not suffer the same fate.

“My team and I were very worried when we were tutoring these learners because we found that the challenges are not decreasing, we get different learners with the same problem.

“We did not want to do once-off classes but rather have a continued strategy. That is why we formed WeSolve4X,” he said.

How to join the programme

Schools that wish to join the programme can contact 011 307 2455 or 061 478 5661 or visit www.solve4x.co.za.
The programme costs R250 for both parent and child, which includes a grocery hamper that contains maize meal, rice, cooking oil and sugar.

They have adopted six local schools Thabotona Primary, Katlehong High School, Glenbrack High, Eketsang Secondary School, Mpotsheng Secondary School and Eden Ridge Secondary School.

The programme currently has 75 tutors and at least 250 others on standby. The tutors are comprised of graduates who are both employed and unemployed.