Only 2% of children who start school together finished matric in 2019 with a solid understanding of mathematics and the skills required to access tertiary studies in maths and science.
Our approach solves the problem by focusing on grade 7 learners through running after-school maths classes and preservice teachers through a yearlong teaching internship
As of 6 April 2020, the Numeric team launched a distance learning project which is intended to reach our learners with the support of our teaching interns. We use a combination of WhatsApp, Facebook, and SMS to reach our learners. The material we share on these platforms are:
- Videos in English, isiZulu, and isiXhosa
- Activities and easy-to-follow - memos (for parents to check learners’ work),
- Maths riddles, and
- Maths games
Our teaching interns are supporting WhatsApp groups of learners to keep them engaged and respond to questions. They are developing their digital teaching skills and are engaged in addressing real challenges faced by educators and the education system as a whole during this time. Each week we deliver an average of 4 – 7 hours of additional enrichment through the learning material and consultation time.
Online Learning Tools
Specially Designed Learning tools to assist teachers and learners
Updated daily these tools will help you keep on top of your maths game with riddles, maths24 games, maths practice with videos and maths drills.
Numeric has developed a low-cost, scalable model for the delivery of high impact after-school programs in low-income areas. We currently partner with 45 schools in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban with 98 active coaches and over 2000 participating learners.
Teaching internships
Our after-school programs have two main beneficiaries – the learners themselves and the tremendous young people who staff our programs – our “coaches”. These coaches participate in an intensive teaching internship in our after-school programs.
Training
Applying our experience from developing the curriculum for our after-school programs, training hundreds of maths teachers, and using Khan Academy, we provide short courses for teachers and community organisations who wish to introduce innovative approaches into their classrooms.
At Numeric, we believe that intervening in high school is too late.
This is evidenced by the last Annual National Assessments (ANA) where Grade 3 learners scored an average of 56% in mathematics, Grade 6 learners scored an average of 43%, and Grade 9 learners scored an average of only 11% in mathematics. An intervention at the primary school level is clearly necessary if our learners are to have a chance at success in high school. That is why our interventions focus on the last year of primary school – our work allows more learners to leave primary school with a solid foundation and confidence in basic mathematics, enabling them to choose pure mathematics and be more successful in high school mathematics, thereby gaining access to tertiary studies and gainful employment beyond schools.
This report by Bianca Bohmer uses Numeric’s evaluation results to analyse the impact of COVID-19 school closures on maths education for grade 6 and 7 learners in peri-urban schools around South Africa in 2020. “Due […]
9 August marks National Women’s Day in South Africa, a pivotal day to commemorate the 1956 march of approximately 20000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the country’s pass laws enforced […]
It is with a bittersweet heart that we announce Kristen Thompson’s departure from her role as Numeric’s CEO. Kristen who has served in the role for the past three years officially served her last day […]
From the early days of playing Maths24 and making number patterns out of the speedometer reading on his moms Opel Kadett, Andrew has been passionate about numbers. He founded Numeric in October 2011 when he set up his first Khan Academy pilot program in Makhaza, Khayelitsha. He spends most of his time thinking about how to make Khan Academy useful, accessible and relevant to South African learners.
Kristen Thompson
chief executive officer
Kristen Thompson
chief executive officer
With her big smile and make-the-circle-bigger attitude, Kristen will do almost anything to make learning fun! Singing out of tune, dancing slightly off beat, and stumbling over clicks while practicing Xhosa are just a few of the things she does to connect with learners. Although she loves teaching in the classroom, she now uses her passion for education to support and encourage our coaches. She is also fond of high-fives, hugs, and hand-written notes.
Jo Denysschen
Finance Officer
Jo Denysschen
Finance Officer
With over 8 years’ experience in administration, Jo brings her skills and knowledge in assisting the Numeric team with the “behind the scenes” tasks. She believes wholeheartedly in education, especially in the foundation phase and her favourite school subject was mathematics. Jo enjoys sewing, reading and making up random songs.
Honjiswa Raba
Operations Manager
Honjiswa Raba
Operations Manager
With her calm and quiet demeanor, one could easily mistake her for a shy person. A nurturer at heart whose passionate about supporting the development of others, Honjiswa is a firm believer that education is the foundation to endless opportunities. Her experience spans in Administration, HR and Operations. A home body at heart, Honjiswa also enjoys a day spent discovering new vineyards, spending the day at the beach and taking long drives.
Sibonelo Hlalaphi
Business Development Manager
Sibonelo Hlalaphi
Business Development Manager
Sibonelo fell in love with mathematics in her grade 9 classroom, where she had heated debates with her father who was also her maths teacher. It was after this experience that she felt that every student should love and not fear mathematics. During her final year at university, Sibonelo started tutoring grade 12 students in Mathematics and Physics, and this is when she fell in love with working with young people. When not in the office, Sibonelo is probably climbing a mountain or having a long walk along the beach. She also enjoys arts and craft and is always starting craft projects.
Luvuyo Notshokovu
Chief Program Manager - Durban
Luvuyo Notshokovu
Chief Program Manager - Durban
Stephen Kweza
Chief Program Manager - CPT
Stephen Kweza
Chief Program Manager - CPT
Having started tutoring mathematics at grade 9, Stephen loves numbers and looking for patterns to make maths fun. Stephen loves to be around children and he teaches them mathematics with a smile. He believes that every child has a right to have an excellent mathematics teacher. Being part of Numeric, he gets to see this becoming a reality. When he's not working, Stephen plays soccer, hikes with his niece and spends time with his baby boy Bantu.
Emisang Machedi
Chief Program Manager - JHB
Emisang Machedi
Chief Program Manager - JHB
When going down the rides like the Tower of Terror at Gold Reef City, Emisang likes to calculate the average speeds and accelerations. In bus rides or long queues, he likes computing the average wait time or playing sudoku puzzles. But apart from being crazy about numbers, he is passionate about making a sustainable change where ever he is. Khan Academy has given him many "aha" moments, and he looks forward to sharing those moments far and wide!
When I grow up, I want to do medical science, which means I need to focus a lot on my mathematics. I am grateful to Numeric for giving me the opportunity to improve my maths and start loving maths, so that I can dream big.
EzethuFormer Numeric Learner
My experience at Numeric was empowering and fun. In addition to content knowledge, I developed my teaching skills and learnt non-traditional methods of teaching in a classroom. I still use some of them in my classroom today, after being a teacher for 3 years.
Nditamani MavhunguFormer Numeric Intern
I used to think maths was difficult but now I know how to solve problems fast without using a calculator. I also learnt that maths can be easy and fun.
