14/01/2020
Dear Parent (ONLY AVAILABLE IN CAPE TOWN SOUTHERN SUBURBS)
A new decade has dawned, and we are going to make it a good one!
Maths classes start this week as usual. Please let me know if your son’s/daughter’s timeslot needs to be adjusted.
Some feedback from my matrics of 2019: I had 5 students. Three of them got their A’s, with the other two B’s.
The matric Maths papers were widely described as being difficult and increasingly becoming “different” to past papers that are used to prepare for finals. The Mercury (25 November 2019) reported that parents had raised concerns about both matric Maths papers and that learners found that the papers had very few similarities to past papers.
Umalusi, South Africa’s Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, is calling for detailed research to be conducted to explain why Grade 12 pupils continue to struggle in Mathematics (7 January 2020). Dr Jacques du Plessis’ response was: “In terms of Mathematics, the amount of work that has to be done to get the syllabus covered within a year is enormous within the school programme. On paper, it looks fine but in the context of the classroom, it is rather difficult. There is no time for consolidating your curriculum at the end of the day and make sure that the kids are properly prepared. You are racing against time in the classroom.”— Dr Jacques du Plessis, Mathematics lecturer - Wits University
Umalusi chairperson, John Volmink, said the fundamental problem with the poor performance "is the way maths is taught at school”. “Problem-solving skills must be developed and the confidence to deal with non-routine problems must be nurtured. It is something we as a country have to pay serious attention to," he said.
Thank you for the time, effort and money you spend to give your child the very best education you can (sometimes hardly) afford. I am here to help your precious son/daughter with their Maths. It is indeed my greatest pleasure and honour, and I will walk many extra miles towards optimizing the Maths thinking skills of each unique brain in my care.
Fees for 2020 will be R4 500 per term. “On special” for my matrics in the first term are three free lessons that can be booked in open slots. We must start consolidating for June exams NOW!
Looking forward!
Marinda (Steenkamp)