SAS SUPPORTS MATHS EDUCATION IN EASTERN CAPE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RHODES UNIVERSITY AND MY MATHS BUDDY PROJECT
C.M. Vellem Primary School, Eastern Cape Province
C.M. Vellem Primary School is located in Grahamstown. It was selected to participate in the My Maths Buddy project last year. In collaboration with the Rhodes University’s Department of Statistics the project was launched in January 2025 and 10 Maths teachers and 40 grade 5 learners began their training and participation in the program.
The first intervention was completed by the end of February and the dedicated team of the Maths department, headed by Ms.Twani who is also a grade 7 Maths teacher, got straight into production. They have launched two My Maths Buddy Clubs with the participating learners and started to work with them on closing the gaps in their foundation phase Maths understanding. We did not have to wait too long for the positive results!
Read on to learn about C.M. Vellem Primary school’s achievements…
Per the results collected from the school the following was achieved in the first half of 2025 since the My Maths Buddy program begun:
94% of struggling learners (group No. 1) have improved their results from term 4 last year to term 2 this year and 76% of these learners have recorded an improvement from term 1 to term 2 this year.
45% of learners from group No. 2 have improved their results from term 4 last year to term 2 this year and 64% of these learners have recorded an improvement from term 1 to term 2 this year.
Most of the struggling learners (group No. 1) improved their results in a significant way as can be seen by the data below:
They have increased their average mark by 13% from last year term 4 compared to term 2.
And 2 learners who were not passing Maths previously are not only passing but have their marks at a totally different and much higher level.
COLLABORATION WITH THE RHODES UNIVERSITY
A recent report from the Fourth Edition of the 2030 Reading Panel shows only 32% of teachers currently demonstrate high levels of mathematics proficiency. Coupled with recent reports showing South African learner maths proficiency being amongst the lowest in the world.
Into this dire situation, SAS stepped in to assist CM Vellem Primary School, in Makhanda (Grahamstown) to raise their own statistics in maths, both for their maths teachers and a contingent of learners. The My Maths Buddy 1 Book 1 Learner Project under the SA Maths Foundation was chosen as the solution
CM Vellem Primary School teachers at the My Maths Buddy Workshop – with the My Maths Buddy Presenter Mr. Brandin Prolad and Mr. Sharkay Izally from The Department of Statistics at Rhodes University.
Empowerment of Maths teachers
“Wow! Working on Maths terminology was a very interesting lesson of the day. I never used a dictionary in explaining Maths terms. I was just doing what was said in the Department documents. I realized that Maths is not difficult as it is judged. I wish it was taught to me the way it is done today, I think I would be a Mathematician by now.”
– Grade 3 Maths Teacher, Ms. Soxujwa
This training exceeded my expectations!
“I gained a lot from this training. The learners were very happy to receive sponsorship of My Maths Buddy program. The training was very well presented. Everything was explained thoroughly. After this training I will be able to explain Maths terminology to the learners. This training exceeded my expectations. I learned a lot and presenter gave us a lot of attention.” – Grade 3 Maths teacher
My Maths Buddy Club Activities
The Club activities created a great impact on learners understanding of Maths. And as Ms.Kepe, the Maths teacher on the program stated: “The grade 5 leaners that I’m busy with are experiencing a huge change in terms of their understanding of Maths. At the beginning some of them were shy to express themselves but now I noticed that they are free to talk and to ask me questions if they didn’t understand something. There’s an improvement.”
We would like to thank the Executives and Staff of SAS and Rhodes University’s Department of Statistics for their amazing support that they give to the project and their dedication to helping improve Maths education for both teachers and learners!
