“The importance of mathematics and science to economic growth cannot be stressed enough. In the technological society we live in today, sound mathematical skill is not a luxury, but a necessity The late Dr Govan Mbeki repeatedly said that the youth of South Africa must study science and maths in order for us to be a winning nation,” says Dr Hennie Boshoff, chairman, GMSMDP management committee. “To facilitate the development of these skills the Govan Mbeki Sasol Mathematical Development Programme targets both learners and educators to ensure the project has sustainable impact.

 

The Govan Mbeki Sasol Mathematics Programme was launched in 2001, in honour of the late Dr Govan Mbeki. Falling under the University's Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Faculty, the programme focuses on improving the mathematical problem solving skills of learners and educators and upgrading the mathematical qualifications of educators at further education and training (FET) level.

 

Since its launch, the programme has hosted an annual mathematics Olympiad targeting 6000 to 8000 grade 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 learners; a professional upgrade programme for FET mathematics educators; a grade 12 incubator school for prospective science, engineering and technology students; various problem solving workshops for educators as well as workshops focusing on the use of technology to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics.

 

Empowering educators with the skills to teach FET mathematics has formed an important part of the programme. Since 2001, almost 200 under-qualified FET mathematics educators have enrolled for the part-time BEd (FET) mathematics degree programme. Tertiary level mathematics modules are presented to these educators during the school holidays. Almost 150 of the participating educators have graduated and are fully qualified to teach FET mathematics at higher-grade level.

 

Launched in 2003, the incubator school pilot project targeted a single group of 50 top grade 12 learners from previously disadvantaged schools. The Mathematics Learner Project aims to empower participating learners with the confidence and skills needed to successfully complete SET programmes at Higher Education institutions. During the 20-week mathematics programme, learners are also exposed to technology.

 

From the initial 50 participating learners the project has since expanded to five groups comprising of 250 learners and serves as an incubator school to develop prospective science and engineering students as well as prospective FET mathematics educators. Many educators who were previous graduates of the upgrade project have joined the learner project team as lectures or facilitators. In 2006, the Mathematics Learner Project will be expanded to include 130 mathematics learners from grade 11.

 

Candidates for the Mathematics Learner Programme are identified in consultation with the Eastern Cape Department of Education and are required to write an aptitude test and complete a learning potential assessment as part of the selection process.

 

Various workshops were also held over the past four years to empower and encourage educators to use technology to teach mathematics in the classroom.

 

Through additional funding provided by Sasol in 2006, the programme will be rolled out to George, Uitenhage and Plettenberg Bay and for the first time commence project-related research to promote the use of modern technology in the study and teaching of mathematics at secondary school level. Currently, a PhD student at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University is researching the impact of the use of graphics calculators in the FET mathematics classroom.

 

“As a company built on science and technology, our survival, like that of other technology-driven organisations, is dependent on ensuring that South Africa produces high quality science and engineering graduates. Our sponsorship of programmes such as the Govan Mbeki Sasol Mathematics Development Programme which aids in the development of young people who will become our future scientists and engineers is not an act of corporate benevolence but a strategic business imperative. We believe this programme makes a valuable contribution to the development of mathematics and science skills in the Eastern Cape,” says Pamilla Mudhray, CSI and SHARP manager, Sasol Ltd.