Achieving a university exemption on Grade 11 or matric mathematics scores is a challenge that many young South Africans face.
Decades of an unfair education system, dating back to apartheid, combined with high rates of poverty and overcrowding in schools means that many children in our country struggle to get the best outcome – particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
According to the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA), less than 30% of all matric students take mathematics and only half of them pass their exams.
However, Liyathandwa Mconi, a Grade 12 learner at VM Kwinana Senior Secondary School in Kariega, who lives with his grandfather, is one of a growing number of learners who have managed to buck the trend after taking part in the Volkswagen Online Maths initiative.
This initiative — which is in partnership with Optimi Workplace’s Tuta-Me and Jendamark’s Odin Education — aims to provide online tutoring and support in mathematics to 1 000 learners in the Nelson Mandela Bay area, in the Eastern Cape.
The three-year pilot project is targeted at ultimately increasing the number of learners who achieve a university pass in mathematics at matric level.
Mconi, with the help of the project, has managed to increase his mathematics results from Level 5 (60 to 69%) to that of Level 6 (70 to 79%).
“It’s been a great experience to be exposed to such classes, because we were used to physical classes in large numbers, but now we were being taught in smaller groups by a teacher who was so patient with us. He made sure we understood every concept that he taught us. He made mathematics look much easier than we thought it was – he actually made me love it,” said Mconi.
Mconi has applied to several universities and has been provisionally accepted for Electrical Engineering at the University of Johannesburg and Cape Peninsula University. He has also applied to study pharmacy at Rhodes University.
Mconi has some advice for other maths learners: “If they really want to improve their results they must normalise practising almost every day. They must also engage with other learners from different schools, to understand each concept in mathematics and take every opportunity that the school, or other places, give that will improve their performance. Be committed to practising and improving your results.”
The Volkswagen Online Maths initiative has focused on Grade 10 to 12 learners at several schools including Newell High School, Nkululeko Public Secondary School, Phaphani High School, Solomon Mahlangu Senior Secondary School, Tinara Secondary School, Uitenhage High School, and VM Kwinana Senior Secondary School.
The online learning support provided by Optimi Workplace’s Tuta-Me has included online resources such as quizzes and past exam papers, a weekly live online tutoring session, and a 24-hour Ask-a-Tutor service. The teachers and tutors involved in the project are trained by Optimi Workplace.
Using tech to improve outcomes
Phemelo Segoe, Marketing Manager of Optimi Workplace, says the programme combines technology and traditional training methods to help improve the prospects for learners.
“Tuta-Me is a dynamic, and accessible, offering that assists high school learners reach their potential through dedicated online and face-to-face tutoring options. Corporates across the country have partnered with us to ensure that high school learners have access to quality tutoring in order to achieve the results needed for postgraduate studies,” says Segoe.
Mconi added, “One last thing to learners who want to improve their maths results – never compare yourself with others but compare yourself with the person that you were yesterday, because this is only about you. With practice, you can do it!”
Tuta-Me is operated by Optimi Workplace, South Africa’s leading community and workforce training provider.