Free training for Maths & Science teachers
Last week Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, said her department was concerned over the number and quality of passes in mathematics and physical science, particularly given the specialised skills the country needed for its drive towards industrialisation, economic growth, and sustainable job creation.
A very concerned Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, also said last week that almost 30% of students are taught mathematics by teachers with no mathematics qualification.
National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) spokesperson, Ezrah Ramasehla, welcomed Pres. Zuma’s State of the Nation address wherein he mentions investments in producing more teachers who can teach mathematics.
With so many concerns about the state of the teaching of mathematics, the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) in co-ordination with Dr Sudan Hansraj (UKZN) created a teacher development project, sponsored by Harmony Gold Mining Company.
The Harmony Teacher Development (HTD) project is a short course for teachers to improve their skills in solving Olympiad type mathematical problems. It is available as a live taught (GET and FET phases) or DVD course (Level 1 for GET and FET phases and Level 2 for GET phase) and certificates are issued which may be used for continuous professional development.
“We encourage all mathematical teachers to take advantage of this unique opportunity to improve their problem solving skills,”
says Prof Johann Engelbrecht, Executive Director of the SAMF. “Teachers can then go back to their classroom to train and enter their learners in the South African Mathematics Olympiad, which will result in a better quality of product from the schools and will put their learners in a position to reap higher achievement levels at university.”
The live taught course is free of charge when a group of 20 teachers in the same area register for participation. The entry fee for the DVD course is R250 per teacher, which will be refunded when a teacher has completed the course.
For more information on how to register, contact Patrick Rasehwete (Project Manager, SAMF) at 012 392 9348 or send an e-mail to rasehwetep@samf.ac.za
Source: Whale Coast FM