EduFeArn and ACSA empower learners with mathematics dictionaries
The donation forms part of an ongoing effort to help learners better understand mathematics concepts and improve their academic performance.
EduFeArn, in partnership with Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), donated mathematics dictionaries to Tembisa West Secondary School on June 26, aiming to support learners in grades nine to 12 on their academic journey.
The donation forms part of an ongoing effort to help learners better understand mathematics concepts and improve their academic performance.
The programme director for the day, Rakgadi Mathate, praised the school for its consistent academic excellence, noting its matric pass rate had improved from 84.8% in 2023 to an impressive 99.4% in 2024.
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ACSA SED senior manager Betty Masinge encouraged learners to explore a wide range of careers, including becoming authors, business owners, chefs, or working in the entertainment industry.
In 2023, ACSA launched a special mathematics intervention programme during school holidays to support struggling learners and boost maths performance in the area.
Gloria Phashe from ACSA explained the motivation behind the initiative.
Photo by Lerato Mokonyane.
“We saw a crisis. The number of learners taking maths in matric was dropping, so we started a small intervention, and 30% of those learners became top performers in their grades,” she said.
Gareth Fearnley from EduFeArn encouraged learners to build their mathematics vocabulary to improve their marks.
“To succeed in maths, try to learn and understand at least six to eight maths-related words every day. That small step can make a big difference in your marks,” he said.
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Fearnley added that EduFeArn hopes to expand its reach to more schools.
“We’d love to work with as many schools as possible. Right now, our intervention is focused on Thembisa, but ACSA has been so supportive that they’ve also committed to helping one or two other schools in the area. More schools will benefit from the dictionaries, and we hope to expand the programme as well.”
Photo by Lerato Mokonyane.
Grade 10 learner Thokozani Mpengesi expressed gratitude for having attended the programme last year.
“It was tough because we didn’t get time to rest, but I learned a lot and passed very well at the end of the year,” said Mpengesi.
Another learner, Seyemole Maphoto, described the programme as motivating and encouraged Grade Nine learners to participate actively.
“Grasp as much information as you can and ask questions when you don’t understand,” Maphoto advised.
Musa Letageng, the school’s departmental head of mathematics, thanked EduFeArn and ACSA for their ongoing support.
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“The partnership has really taken the school to new heights and improved our maths results. The Grade 10s are doing well because of last year’s programme.
Photo by Lerato Mokonyane.
“It brought light to the school and now learners are curious to learn and know more about mathematics,” said Letageng.
The school principal, governing body, and Ekurhuleni North District expressed their gratitude to EduFeArn and ACSA for their commitment to uplifting mathematics education in Thembisa.
