Education and Leadership, Events

Extra Maths tuition at Windsor Secondary, raising marks, raising hope

EXTRA Maths tuition over the Women’s Day long weekend, offered by NGO Awqaf South Africa in conjunction with the Alfred Duma Municipality in the Tugela District of KZN and the Department of Education, has injected hope into nearly 300 Grade 12 learners from eight surrounding schools.

From getting marks as low as 5 per cent, the K-Way programme presented by Mohammed Khota with the help of Zohra Essack, was aimed at lifting the learners into the pass category by boosting their Maths skills.

Co-ordinator Soojat Khan, who liaised with various municipal and government officials and  principals to get the event off the ground, described it as a great, heart-warming success.

“If you consider that it was a long weekend, and that it was bitterly cold, it was really encouraging to see nearly 300 learners braving the elements to attend the three day course.

“One principal, who was not on the programme, was so keen that he brought 18 learners with him, and so we made arrangements to accommodate them. I can tell you, the smiles on the faces were absolutely wonderful to see as these learners, mainly from rural schools, got stuck into their Maths.”

Educator Zohra Essack said that the commitment of the learners had really impressed her. “Even good learners came to the programme to hear what we had to say. Maths is all about attitude and persistence, and the learners showed that,” she said.

Learners who attended the course were excited about the programme. Anathi Kubheka from Sizakahle Senior Secondary said that the programme had helped her in “good ways”, showing her “different techniques” in doing Maths.

Nocedo Shabalala said that after the second term he was losing hope with Maths, but that after the programme he could see that he could now do it. Thandokuhle Shange from Ladysmith Secondary said that the programme had taught her “new and simple ways to find solutions. It was an amazing experience as we interacted with learners from other schools as well.”

According to Soojat Khan, there will be a follow up programme in October at Windsor Secondary after the mock exams. He said that together with the parties concerned, he was working on a long term vision of bringing teachers on board with the K-Way methodology via videos, and exploring the possibility of also focusing on Grade 11 learners as well.

For more enquiries:

Zeinoul Cajee

Cell: 084 786 1409

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