Brighter Futures Tuition: Link found between economic growth and maths literacy

SEVERE criticism of the country’s education system inspired the start-up Brighter Futures Tuition initiative that has developed a mobile platform helping learners improve their maths marks by up to 14 per cent within months.

This initiative’s commenced at two high schools in the Mondeor area, with a 23-year-old Wits University graduate, Tshepo Mokgaba, who has a double major in Bachelor of Science, as the budding tutor for Mondeor High School and President High School learners.

“I grew to love tutoring in 2014, because I used to tutor students at Wits. I started tutoring last year September in Brakpan and now I’m also tutoring in Mondeor,” he said.

Tshepo also completed his studies in Bachelors Science (Honours) with distinction this year and is awaiting graduation.

This happens against a backdrop of a growing recognition of a link between basic mathematical skills and economic growth.

The technology was developed by Siyavula, a Mark Shuttleworth Foundation beneficiary, and models the way in which pupils learn.

CEO of Brighter Futures Tuition Joanne Brink explained: “Parents are concerned that poor maths results limit the career choices of their children, and this is why tutoring support is a growing market. Their feedback is that the combination of mobile technology and tutoring is compelling, especially when they are seeing such significant improvements in just a few months.”

Economists have drawn a link between poor mathematical skills and the country’s economic growth, because the quality of a country’s scientists, entrepreneurs and technocrats depends to a large degree on their foundational skills acquired early in life.

Brighter Futures Tuition offers extra maths tutoring starting at R50 an hour, using advanced interactive technology on mobile phones. It currently has six maths centres in Gauteng.

There are opportunities for existing independent tutors and retiring high school maths teachers in Gauteng.