By Patrick Mashanda | Project Leader
IkamvaYouth learners in grades 8 and 9 are taking part in maths programmes (FunMaths). While the programme started at two of our branches in 2011, in July 2013 we were able to expand to 6 of our branches across the country. This programme enables learners to practice maths at their own pace and to build up foundational maths topics, thus taking away the fear of numbers and functions. IkamvaYouth has piloted these two programmes in the Makhaza and Nyanga branches over the last two years with phenomenal results; our grade 8 and 9 learners' Maths results have improved significantly, such that their current results are between 72 and 98%. These learners are all well positioned to take pure Maths (as opposed to Maths Literacy) for grade 10, and in the event that they continue to perform so well, they will be able to access highly prestigious scholarships and places on competitive programmes at the top tertiary institutions. At the Makhaza and Nyanga branches, the learners practice various maths concepts on an online platform called Khan Academy. At other branches the learners use work books produced by Education Without Boarders, as well as books from the Answer Series. The learners have mastered more maths concepts; they work hard, and always look forward to attending these sessions. The FunMaths programme is administered by one volunteer working with 20 learners. The learners attend for free, but to keep their place, they have to attend at least 75% of the term time, and they must complete the work books. The learners who took part in the FunMaths (Khan Academy) programmes at our Makhaza and Nyanga branches in the past years, 81% have moved on to take pure maths and 61% physical science when they get to grade 10, according to the Van der berg report. Thank you to all our supporters, for it is through your giving that township learners are able to take science and maths, and have access to the science careers, which traditionally are not accessible for township learners. While the township schools may not have the laboratories, IkamvaYouth is setting up computer labs at all its branches to ensure the learners practise using computers, as well as the online platforms such as Khan Academy.
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