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.
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 […]
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.
