In a bid to promote mathematics amongst high school learners, education MEC, Tate Makgoe, took school principals of schools that excel well in this discipline, on an excursion to Singapore to learn new strategies and techniques of stimulating academic excellence in the subject.
The chief director of the education department’s curriculum development unit, Mamiki Maboya, said the department chose to visit Singapore because of the country’s proven track record in the teaching of mathematics and science.
“We learned that we have similarities with Singapore where mathematics is compulsory up to grade 9, like here. The only difference is that they start entrenching and intensifying and fostering the love for mathematics at an earlier stage. Their approach to mathematics is geared more to problem solving.”
One of the four principals who made the trip to Singapore, Pheello Kumalo of Sekgutlong High school was confident that the trip will benefit not only the selected schools, but other schools in the province as well.
“We are going to share what we learned from Singapore with our fellow principals with a view to improving performance in mathematics in our schools.”
Kumalo said his school has already adopted some of the teaching styles from the Singaporeans, adding that the trip has also sharpened the mathematical skills and knowledge of the principals who went on the study tour.
“We have already started with revision exercises to prepare our students for the upcoming end-of-year examinations.”
Kumalo said Maths and English are the central focus in Singapore, which places emphasis on the role of teachers who are paid well by the government.
Makgoe had picked principals from top performing schools in Bloemfontein, Welkom and two from Thabo Mofutsanyana, to accompany him on the trip.
Comments are closed.