“The Mathematics situation in SA – Connecting the dots”

The analysis below is based on the Department of Basic Education’s reports as  published on their website. (https://www.education.gov.za/Resources/Reports.aspx).
It represents data for the years 2014 – 2018.

• Only 53% of learners that started Grade 1 survived to finally reach Grade 12.
• Approximately 35% of those that got to Grade 12 were enrolled for pure
Mathematics.
• Out of those doing Maths, only 13% obtained a mark of 60% and above, which
is the minimum requirement to pursue careers in Engineering, Medical Studies,
Accounting, Computer Science, Data Science, Actuarial Science, etc. These
are the skills South Africa desperately needs.

Let’s now connect the dots based on the above:
• Let’s say: 100 learners start in Grade 1
• 53 will reach Grade 12 (i.e. 53% of 100)
• 19 will do pure Maths (i.e. 35% of 53)
• 2 will achieve a mark of 60% and above for Maths (i.e. 13% of 19)
• This means that only 2% of the original group of Grade 1’s will achieve a
mark of 60% and above for Maths.
• Differently stated: Learners in public schools have a mere 2% chance of
achieving 60% and more for Maths and making it to venture into the much
needed careers mentioned above.

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Written by Andries van Ross