Don’t drop maths – expert
Economist likens proposal to infamous Verwoerd policy
REMOVING mathematics as a compulsory promotion requirement for grades 7 to 9 would deprive children of numeracy, a basic skills they need in life, a maths expert has said.
MacDonald Chapwanya, mathematics lecturer and IT head at the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences’ Schools Enrichment Centre, said if compulsory mathematics was removed, “doors to the corporate world would close for our children”.
“And what happens to the child who wants to study further outside the continent? Without mathematics they would be considered incompetent to do that. What happens if our children want to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers?
“Right now the world is running with a STEM agenda and why is South Africa not lifting our hand and joining this agenda, which is critical for the development of relations in the world? You can’t pursue careers in IT, engineering, medicine, accounting and even art without mathematics.
“We are shutting the door at such a critical stage of development, grades 7 to 9, when the foundations have to be laid. It is very sad,” said Chapwanya.
Basic Education Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said they were engaged in “broad consultation” with education experts, parents, tertiary education institutions and the public, on the amendments to the foundation, intermediate and senior phase promotion requirements.
The proposal under review deals with passing four subjects at 40%, one of which is a home language, passing any other four subjects at 30% and removing mathematics as a compulsory promotion requirement, said Mhlanga.
Economist Mike Schussler said in order for South Africans to compete in the world, a good quality education is needed. Removing subjects like maths would be lowering standards and that would not be a “wise decision”, as people distinguish between those who “have maths and those who don’t”.
“And ironically, if we go back to Hendrik Verwoerd, he didn’t want black people to do mathematics, and now it seems that we are going back to that. I thought we were getting away from that sort of Bantustan education? I am perplexed,” said Schussler.
Language lecturer and writer Alex Tabisher said the proposal “disgusts me to my soul. If anything epitomises dumbing down, this is it”, as mathematics is a vital part of developing cognitive skills and memory.
In a spot survey around Cape Town, clerk Nozuko Bhalindlela said: “There is no way they can take it away. You are constantly calculating in the world.”
Pensioner Daphne Mclachlan, 81, said: “Maths is your brain, we need to have maths to survive. How can they take it away? (Children) are always focused on their phones. Their brains are going away.”
Chad Jacobs, Ian Karanja and Choristelle Conrad all agreed that maths was the basic foundation for anything from running a business to getting through Grade 12.