Boosting township and rural learners' performance in mathematics and science

STEM Education

- By Thabo Mohlala

One of the key elements of the Department of Basic Education’s newly revamped education curriculum is to equip learners with 21st Century skills.

This aligns with the broader government's priority of stimulating economic growth and creating the much-needed jobs. But the overall performance of the South African learners in maths and science, has been below par compared with their continental and global peers.

A nonprofit organisation called Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology adopted a targeted approach to improve learner performance in these gateway subjects. The intervention entails focusing on specific areas of the curriculum where learners struggle. The approach is paying dividends because for two decades, the centre has been producing distinctions and Bachelor passes in the STEM subjects. Through its flagship programme, Promaths, learners from township schools have improved their performance significantly, passing maths and science with flying colours.