‘Imagine a grade 9 learner reading the entire textbook in preparation for maths assessment. That is too much’
– Education activist Hendrick Makaneta, on July 2, 2024, called on the Department of Basic Education to allow Grade 9 mathematics learners the opportunity to write two exam papers, similar to their Grade 12 counterparts. He argued that the workload for Grade 9 is extensive and requires more time, stating that it is unfair to assess learners on all content areas in a single paper.
“The Minister of Basic Education should, among other things, restructure the mathematics subject into paper 1 and 2 in Grade 9. It’s impractical for learners to be evaluated on the entire textbook in one assessment. Imagine a grade 9 learner reading the entire textbook in preparation for maths assessment. That is too much,” lamented Makaneta.
He also expressed concern that the current assessment approach often results in many Grade 9 learners failing or performing poorly in mathematics, which is critical as they choose subjects for the Further Education and Training (FET) phase.
Makaneta emphasized that unless the issue of Grade 9 mathematics is promptly addressed, there will likely be a continued decline in the number of learners opting to continue with mathematics in Grade 10. “Many learners may choose the mathematical literacy stream,” he added.
He further explained the need for South Africa to cultivate young people proficient in mathematics and science, highlighting future opportunities in these fields. “Today’s jobs will soon become obsolete, necessitating the government to swiftly prepare our learners for future challenges,” he stressed.
“The Minister of Basic Education should also consider the possibility of modernizing our education system to align with the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he pleaded.
Makaneta, a qualified mathematics educator with over 20 years of experience in higher education, local government, and basic education, critiqued the Grade 9 curriculum for its excessive workload. He suggested phasing out some subjects to introduce robotics and coding, noting that he has formally raised these concerns with the Department of Basic Education.
His proposal is intended for both public and private schools following the CAPS curriculum. Previously, Makaneta served as a mathematics coach under the Gauteng Provincial Language and Mathematics Strategy (GPLMS), training over 300 educators in the province on CAPS curriculum and teaching strategies.
The GPLMS initiative, spearheaded by then MEC Barbara Creecy, now Transport Minister, aimed to enhance teaching methodologies to improve learner performance in Mathematics and English.
