Llyn Mpangane is the hero of a South African maths and science story. Llyn attended Khusalani Secondary School in Mpumalanga. It was here that she attended the Promaths programme at Mbombele Promaths Centre. She was the top-performing grade 12 learner from the programme in 2021, achieving an incredible 98% for mathematics, 99% for physical sciences and 96% for life sciences.
Llyn’s success has been recognised provincially and nationally. She was the top learner in the quintile three schools in Mpumalanga, and came second in the country for quintile three schools.
Llyn is using her success in maths and science to study medicine at the University of Cape Town.
Llyn is one of many Promaths learners who excelled in maths and science, despite numerous challenges, in the 2021 academic year.
Promaths learners achieve in the 2021 academic year
Promaths, sponsored by Investec and other companies, provides extra tuition in maths and science to grades 10 and 12 learners in selected schools across South Africa. Their 2021 results show the success of the intervention.
In 2021, a total of 701 distinctions were achieved by the 1 230 Investec and Entrepreneurship Development Trust-funded Promaths learners in mathematics and physical science.
Mathematics
There were 1 230 learners who wrote mathematics across Investec and EDT funded Promaths centres. The following is a summary of results:
- Pass rate: 99.5%
- 89.8% of learners achieved 50% and above
- 73.2% of learners achieved 60% & above
- Subject Average: 72%
- 28.9% obtained distinctions in mathematics. Number of distinctions: 355
- 109 learners scored between 90 and 99% in mathematics
- 14 learners scored 100% in mathematics
Physical science
There were 1 230 learners who wrote physical science across Investec and EDT funded Promaths centres. The following is a summary of results:
- Pass Rate: 99.5%
- 90.7% achieved 50% and above
- 74.9% achieved 60% and above
- Subject average: 72%
- 1% of the Promaths cohort achieved distinctions in science. Number of distinctions: 346
- 104 learners scored between 90 and 99% in physical sciences
- 8 learners scored 100% in physical sciences
Promaths proudly reports on the high quality of their passes, with 93% of their matriculants achieving a university pass, or bachelor’s pass.
What were South Africa’s maths and science matric results for 2021?
A record total of 704 021 candidates sat for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) 2021 examinations. The overall performance of the class of 2021 was a 76.4% pass rate; 537 687 of the 704 021 candidates who wrote the November 2021 NSC examination passed. Moreover, 256 031 (36.4%) achieved admission to university studies.
The following is a summary of the national results.
Mathematics
- 259 143 (36.8%) of the 704 021 candidates wrote mathematics
- 59 573 (23% of those that wrote maths) attained a pass of 50% or more
- The number of learners achieving 60% or more in mathematics was 34 451 (13.3%)
Physical sciences
- 196 968 (28%) of the 704 021 candidates wrote physical sciences
- 53 844 (27.3% of those that wrote physical sciences) attained a pass of 50% or more
- The number of learners achieving 60% or more in physical science was 30 398 (15.4%)
According to the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examination Report 2021, the number of learners achieving 60% or more in mathematics in 2021 was the highest in the last five years. The report acknowledges that learners seem to have struggled more with physical sciences than mathematics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How does Promaths contribute nationally?
Below is a table that tracks the Investec and EDT Promaths contribution to the number of distinctions achieved annually from 2017 to 2021.
Promaths top achievers recognised
- A Promaths learner was recognised as the second Top National Achiever in quintile three schools with an overall aggregate of 95%
- A Promaths learner was recognised as the KZN Provincial Top Achiever in mathematics
- 38 Promaths learners in six provinces were recognised at the Provincial Awards as Top Achievers
