Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) have teamed up in a bid to advance educational research and training for maths and science in South Africa.
Thus far, the partnership, which from NMMU includes the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Unit (GMMDU) and its First Rand Foundation Chair in Mathematics Education, has led to two skills upgrade sessions, attended by 280 maths and science teachers from 40 schools across the country, with a focus on the respective Grade 11 syllabuses. These sessions will be repeated for the same teachers next year, focusing on the Grade 12 syllabuses.
Plans are also on the cards for further collaboration between NMMU and SAASTA, the business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF), which may see SAASTA identifying and nurturing the talent of pupils who have completed GMMDU’s incubator schools for maths and science, though career guidance and bursary support. It is envisaged that the Department of Education will also come on board to assist their efforts.
“SAASTA’s mandate is to advance public awareness, appreciation and engagement of science, engineering and technology (SET) in South Africa,” said SAASTA Education Unit manager Dr Jabu Nukeri. “We aim to build the supply of tomorrow’s scientists and innovators.”
During the two four-day skills upgrade sessions for teachers – which were held in July and October in Pretoria – the 140 participants at each were exposed to a unique, technology-based teaching and learning model for teachers and pupils, pioneered by GMMDU, which uses cutting-edge electronic media to teach the Grade 11 and 12 maths and science National Curriculum Statement (NCS) syllabuses.
In the teaching sessions, the model was shared via two DVD series, for maths and science respectively, covering the compulsory sections of the Grade 11 syllabuses.
Teachers at the seminars were mostly from Dinaledi project schools (a countrywide project which aims to increase access to maths and science at higher-grade level in underprivileged schools), Harmony Gold-supported schools as well as SAASTA’s own project schools. “We are trying to create schools of excellence, and empower teachers with technology and training,” said Prof Werner Olivier, who heads up GMMDU and holds a First Rand Foundation Chair in Maths Education, administered by the NRF.
Feedback from the sessions was promising. One science teacher, commenting on the science DVD series, said: “It will change my own way of teaching, for the better of the children we are teaching.”
“We are going to make a difference,” said another.
A maths teacher said: “I believe the DVD intervention will play a huge role in improving the quality of mathematics in our country.” Another said the rich material content would ensure teachers were “greatly empowered”.
In the GMMDU-run incubator schools, pupils are exposed to the same DVD series.
GMMDU recently ran a maths skills upgrade programme for teachers in the Somerset East area. The Department of Education will take this further by offering the same programme in the Graaff-Reinet and Cradock areas, with assistance from SAASTA.
Alan Straton
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