MATHS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION: Research and insights
RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS
Mathematics Education Research in South Africa 2007-2015: Review and Reflection
This 2016 paper reviews research in mathematics education in South Africa published in local and international journals from 2007-2015. The authors note an increase in research into primary mathematics, as well as a proliferation of small-scale qualitative studies on secondary teaching and learning.
Mathematical knowledge for teaching in Africa 2014-2021: A review of literature
This paper notes that most studies were conducted in South Africa during the period under review. The majority of the studies under review focus on evaluating teachers’ mathematical knowledge, to a far greater extent than international studies. The paper suggests researchers consider the knowledge demands of teaching rather than simply what teachers do (or don’t) know.
The Centre for Development and Enterprise commissioned four comparative statistical studies of Senior Certificate (SC) and National Senior Certificate (NCS) results since 1998 to understand learner performance and who should go on to take mathematics as a subject in place of mathematical literacy. Findings suggest that if additional resources were devoted to the second quintile of schools, the national performance in maths and science could be improved – although it is difficult to identify promising schools due to major performance variations.
Learning from the Maths Challenge Programme: results-based monitoring to enhance education strategy
The Epoch and Optima Trusts, founded by Anglo American, established the Maths Challenge Programme (MCP) in 2007, managed by Tshikululu Social Investments. The aim was to increase the number of black learners achieving quality maths passes in grade 12. As of 2023, there have been positive changes in MCP schools than contradict the national trend, with more quality passes among African learners than in counterpart schools.
