MEC Lindi Masina.
Mpumalanga MEC Education MEC Lindi Masina has called on Mathematics education experts to place language at the centre of efforts to improve learner performance.
Masina was addressing more than 1,500 delegates at the National Congress of the Association for Mathematics Education of South Africa (AMESA) that language is key to unlocking learners’ understanding of Mathematics held at University of Mpumalanga on July 13
Masina said improving Mathematics outcomes requires more than better teaching methods, stressing that learners must be taught in ways that allow them to fully understand mathematical concepts.
She noted that many learners are taught and assessed in a language other than their mother tongue, creating an additional barrier to learning and affecting confidence, conceptual understanding and academic performance.
She encouraged researchers, educators and practitioners attending the congress to develop practical, research-based approaches that integrate language into Mathematics teaching while advancing Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education.
The MEC also highlighted the Mpumalanga Department of Education’s strategy to strengthen Mathematics education through improved foundational numeracy, enhanced teacher development, expanded learner support programmes and increased participation in Mathematics beyond Grade 9.
She said the province continues to invest in STEM education through the OR Tambo Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy, which has been allocated R78 million in the current financial year to improve teaching, nurture mathematical talent and create more opportunities for learners pursuing careers in science, engineering and technology.
Masina said these interventions are already producing positive results, with Mpumalanga’s Mathematics pass rate rising from 52.8% in 2022 to 58% in 2023 and 66.37% in 2024.
She concluded by calling on delegates from South Africa and abroad to collaborate, share innovative ideas and develop practical solutions that will make Mathematics more accessible, inclusive and meaningful for every learner while building the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, engineers and innovators.
