In a remarkable display of dedication and resilience, pupils benefiting from an established mathematics and physical sciences programme in Mdantsane township near East London overcame years of pandemic-induced disruption to pass matric with distinction in 2023.
For all but one of their five high school years, the 90 matric pupils participating in the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology’s Promaths after-school tuition programme endured trimmed curriculums, lack of exposure to standardised assessments and constant amendments to requirements.
Despite all these challenges, they excelled.
Topping the list was Ulwazi High School’s Angesisa Sithole, who achieved 98% for mathematics and 93% for physical sciences, giving her a 96% average for these two subjects and a total of seven distinctions. Hot on her heels were Othandwayo Ngumbela (92% average) and Iviwe Sontlaba (91% average).
The programme’s top grade 11 performer was Khuseleka Nanto, who earned a 92% aggregate for maths and science, while the leading grade 10 was Asanda Mhlom (89%).
These and other exceptional achievers from grades 10 to 12 were celebrated at a special awards ceremony at Southern Sun Hemingways Hotel in East London on Friday June 21.
Aside from the quality and commitment of teachers, the programme’s success is attributable to private funders such as the Datatec Educational and Technology Foundation which has supported the programme for 14 years.
Datatec board and foundation chair Maya Makanjee said investing in organisations such as Kutlwanong is key to unlocking the maths and science potential in pupils to take SA forward in terms of growth and economic development.
For the 2023 school year, intensive intervention programmes were put in place during the winter and spring holidays and throughout the academic year.
The general baseline pass rate for mathematics among the matric cohort grew from 62% in 2021 (grade 10) to 100% in 2023. The pass rate increase for physical science moved from 63% in 2021 to 100%.
In their matric finals, 29% of Mdantsane’s Promaths pupils achieved 80% and above for maths, while the majority (71%) scored 60% and above. In physical science, 24% of the 90 pupils achieved 80% and above, while the majority (72%) recorded 60% and above.
As a result, 90% of Promaths matrics earned bachelor’s passes, while the remainder were able to study at tertiary diploma level.
“Despite the difficulties created by the pandemic, the evidence points to the resilience in the Promaths programme in the area that matters most; namely, learning outcomes over the years,” Kutlwanong CEO Tumelo Mabitsela said. “More Promaths pupils are achieving higher-level grade 12 outcomes which are considered sufficient by universities for entry into specific university programmes.”
