Maths and Science grant not producing results
27 July 2018
The Democratic Alliance has requested a briefing by the Northern Cape Department of Education regarding the quality of math and science education, particularly in the eighteen schools across the province which receive funding from the Maths, Science & Technology Grant.
The eighteen high schools funded by the grant in 2017 saw an overall decline in performance and actually have lower success rates than the provincial average, meaning that this funding is somehow not translating into academic success for learners who need it most.
This grant is specifically earmarked to provide resources to schools in line with the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements and aims to ensure that there is improved learner participation and success rates in Math, Science and Technology subjects. A recent presentation done by the department to the National Assembly, however, reveals that this is just not the case in the Northern Cape.
The eighteen high schools funded by the grant in 2017 saw an overall decline of 4% in their pass rates for grade 12 learners, with declines as high as 13% at both the Thabane High School and the Pampierstad High School and 20% at both the Hoërskool Veritas and the Kegomoditswe High School. While we do welcome improvements at some schools, such as the increase of 11% at Umso High School, 15% at the Olebogeng High School and 23% at the K.S. Shuping High School, many schools with improved pass rates had a smaller cohort of learners and the overall decline is still far too worrying to leave much room for happiness.