In SA it is well known that we lag badly in the quality of our Maths and Science education. In the Global Competitiveness report we rank 138/142 countries. But something is happening. Our university engineering faculties are rapidly filling up with outstanding young black candidates and Business Science graduates are 50% students ‘of colour’. So despite the legacy of the Bantu Education Act (1952) which banned the teaching of Maths and Science in our schools, we are beginning to see the emergence of many talented young kids who ‘know’ their Maths and Science.
Why?
We have 100 000 NGO’s in SA all determined to make some sort of social contribution, many dedicated to equipping teachers with the competence to deliver sound Maths and Science tuition. Uplands Outreach is one such NGO, JJ Thabethe one such teacher.
JJ Thabethe is a Grade 7 teacher at Maqamela Primary School in Clau-Clau, Mpumalanga – a rural community bordering the Kruger National Park. With many of the characteristics of typical rural communities, JJ has had many challenges to contend with.
But determination, passion, and perseverance go a long way, despite seemingly insurmountable odds. (Oh how we wish there were more teachers who embody this spirit).
Originally trained as a Social Science and Technology teacher, JJ has never been timid to approach challenges in her 21 years of teaching. Three years ago her school was left without a Maths teacher. Despite having limited experience (her last maths class was in 1980!), she vowed not to let these learners down and volunteered to take the classes. It was at this point that her school Principal introduced her to Uplands Outreach, the non-profit arm of Uplands College in White River, Mpumalanga. JJ enrolled in the "Teachers for Excellence (T4E) Programme" at Uplands, an initiative aimed at developing teachers’ Maths content and pedagogical knowledge – along with leadership skills and computer literacy.
For nearly three years, JJ spent almost every Monday afternoon at Uplands. She was joined by 44 other colleagues who received top-notch training from Uplands Math specialists and regular lectures from visiting University of Johannesburg professors. For someone who is responsible for the education of South Africa’s future mathematicians, JJ said that the T4E programme "saved her life!" by giving her the confidence and content mastery to truly thrive in her grade 7 Maths class.
JJ said that she has learned the following over the past three years:
- She knows exactly what to do in class, and how to answer learners’ questions
- She learned how to work in a group
- She learned how to work with slower learners
- She now has an appetite for professional development, and can’t wait to study more
- She learned how to be part of a professional learning community
Her favourite subject used to be Algebra, but now she loves Geometry. She knew absolutely nothing about Geometry before, but now enjoys teaching it to her Grade 7s.
Last month she celebrated Youth Day by joining her T4E colleagues in a graduation ceremony celebrating the achievement of their Maths ACE from the University of Johannesburg. On her graduation day at Uplands, in addition to her diploma she also carried with her the "Perseverance Award," which is awarded by Investec to a graduate who shows special determination in overcoming challenges. JJ said that she was overjoyed to receive this award – the first trophy she has ever received in her life.
In just three years, JJ went from someone who (in her own words) "knew nothing about Maths, other than she liked it and was not scared to learn more" to someone who holds an Advanced Certificate in Education from one of the most distinguished universities in South Africa.
In SA a little help goes a long way. I wrote this tribute to the selfless work that our NGO sector does for the betterment of SA.
DEDICATION
Like bubbles of energy rising from the dark depths of the ocean
the work of NGO’s often goes unnoticed, unheralded and unapplauded
But with time and unerring certainty this selfless belief in sewing what is good
will enable the many, many beneficiaries of such giving
to rise, to grow and inevitably burst onto the surface
with an energy and a force
that will change this country
and its people
for the better
forever
Steuart has done some 500 talks on South Africa's progress since 1994 and SA's prospects for the future' 
