An office makes a perfect classroom
Stephen Twinoburyo runs Scimatics Solutions, where he teaches young people maths and science. He tells Margaret Harris that he was not always a maths whizz, but lots of practice helped him to become top of the class and he has not looked back
What service does your business offer?
Scimatics Solutions — short for science and mathematics solutions — offers tuition in mathematics- and science-related subjects to primary and high school pupils and university undergraduates.
We are in the process of publishing commercial study material and plan to establish a comprehensive science centre.
Last year, I visited the California Science Centre in Los Angeles and the Washington Space Museum to gain ideas and establish contacts. We are based in Hatfield, Pretoria, and mainly serve the surrounding schools and academic institutions, but we have also done work with communities outside our area.
What brought you to South Africa from Uganda?
I grew up in a country that was undergoing turmoil, so postindependence South Africa offered hope. I wanted to be part of it so that I would have more to offer to society. Scimatics Solutions is a blend of the knowledge I had previously and what I have acquired in South Africa.
You worked as a maths and science teacher before starting your business. What did you enjoy about teaching?
I started teaching as an “accident” after being asked to temporarily help some stu- dents. At first, I was always waiting for a time when I would get out of the profession, but I discovered that the effect of improved grades on the future of the young people I taught gave me much fulfilment and joy.
Why did you leave?
I have never left teaching. All I have done is turn my teaching into a wider service that meets the needs of struggling students. Although I now run a business, my office remains the classroom. My move to business was motivated by the praise I received from my students. I realised teaching was my calling and I needed to package and extend it to a wider audience.
Adding a business component has also given me an opportunity to employ previously unemployed youngsters and guide them in the ethics and demands of the working world.
South Africa does not fare well in terms of maths and science. If you were minister of education, how would you improve this?
I would lobby the Treasury, cabinet and parliament to make teachers among the highest-paid professionals to attract the top brains. Through my teaching, I have realised how poorly regarded the profession is in society — and that includes those I teach. This means many people end up in teaching as a last resort and many long for an opportunity to get out. I have a background in electrical engineering, mathematical and statistical sciences (financial modelling) and financial engineering, which all require mathematical brains. I believe my knowledge of these subjects has helped a lot in my teaching.
I would also drop mathematical literacy from the curriculum and focus on improving maths teaching as well as partnering with the private sector in motivating youngsters on the benefits of doing maths.
Last, but not least, it’s clear that the government on its own cannot fill the hole in maths and science education and needs private service providers like us. I would promote the funding of such institutions so they could reach more communities.
Can anyone learn to do maths and science, or do some people just lack the capacity to understand numbers?
Maths and science are like a language. The more you are exposed to a new language and practise it, the easier it becomes. In my first year of high school, my average score in maths was 14% and in physics 19%. I had told myself I could never do maths and could not wait to drop all science subjects.
Luckily, I changed schools and my new friends were all good at maths and science. Inspired by them, I started working on maths and, surprisingly, it started seeming easier.
By the end of that year, I was top of my class and have never looked back. I have been living on maths since, including teaching at the University of Pretoria’s department of mathematics and applied mathematics before quitting to focus on my business.
Some of the students I have seen at Scimatics Solutions have been told by their schools to drop maths in favour of maths literacy, but it does not take long for them to become top performers.
It’s all in the mind, but motivation is crucial.
What can parents do to help children do better?
Children whose parents are involved in their studies tend to do well at school. It’s important, too, for parents to have communication with their children’s teachers so that there is combined and co-ordinated support. A parent doesn’t need to have money to take children to an expensive school or pay for extras. It’s vital to encourage them and take pride in any progress they make.
What do you love most about the work you do?
I love seeing children who have been struggling with maths or science turn around and become high performers. Our matric pupils score an average of 80% in maths and this is a great inspiration. I love seeing the children I teach go on to study top courses at university.
What do you wish you could ask someone else to do?
Typing study material. I always find this so laborious, especially where diagrams, sketches and illustrations have to be inserted. New technologies are making this easier, but I would prefer this to be done by experts.
What mistakes have you made that have taught you the biggest lessons?
I employ a number of university students to help in tutoring pupils. At one point, I dropped them in the deep end to do all the teaching and soon noticed, through a decline in performance, that they needed guidance. I realised that to maintain our good quality, I had to guide them and be part of the teaching.