Awqaf SA’s annual maths workshop breaks all records

THE positivity, the hope and the eagerness of young South African learners to move forward with their Grade 12 mathematics was highlighted when Awqaf SA hosted a record-breaking Matric Maths Online Workshop over the weekend of August 27 and 28, 2022.

With over 13 000 learners registering in a record response to the annual event, the online format – used for the first time last year during the COVID-19 pandemic – proved to be a huge success.

Conducted by the renowned specialist in the field of mathematics tuition, Mohamed Kota of the K-Way Maths Institute, there were 20 000 views on the Saturday, August 27 for Maths I and 11 000 for Maths II on Sunday, August 28.

‘We were really excited by the positive response of the learners. Thirty thousands views in two days tells us our young people are really motivated,’ said Hasanain Abdullah, projects co-ordinator for Awqaf SA, an NGO that focuses on developmental issues.

He said that in Gauteng the Department of Basic Education played a critical role in getting the word out to the schools in the region, and the sessions viewed in schools were under the supervision of their maths teachers.

Awqaf SA expressed thanks to the Director-General in the National Department of Basic Education, Hubert Mweli, and former Deputy Minister of Education, Enver Surty, for facilitating the phenomenal response.

The schools connected to the online tuition workshop by using Smart Box television sets supplied by the Department of Basic Education. This proved to be vital for those learners who had no access to Internet at home.

The sessions were interactive, and learners were able to post their questions and comments via the online chat feature, which saw a total 4 348 messages feeding into the high energy and accessible presentation of Mohamed Kota.

Messages were overwhelmingly positive, with Gauteng learner Lerato Tlholoe saying that she now had huge hope that she could pass her Maths I paper.

‘It’s been a great online session and I’ve learnt many formulas and methods of calculating a particular question. And now I have increased my level of writing and thinking, and it’s been really helpful,’ she said.

Another message said: ‘Hi, I am a teacher at Derona Academy in Kempton Park. I enjoyed your presentation so much. Thank you for your excellent presentation. Your quality and sound were perfect.”

Awqaf CEO, Zeinoul Abedien Cajee, said that his organisation was overwhelmed by the extraordinary response.

‘It has exceeded all expectations and broken all records in our six years of presenting this programme. It shows just how woke our young people are, and just how motivated they are to move forward with their lives. We cannot fail but to be impressed with our youth,’ he said, expressing his gratitude to all of those who made it possible.

‘Skills transfer, particularly in mathematics, is just so important for our youth and successful nation-building. This is one way we can give our youth a future,’ he added.

The sessions were also hosted on Awqaf SA’s YouTube platform, and learners will be able to refer back to the site for revision, or if they were not able to attend the workshop.

Awqaf SA, in partnership with the K-Way Institute, has conducted mathematics upgrade workshops to improve overall mathematics literacy and the results of Grade 12 learners. Thousands of learners have already benefited from the intervention.

Facilitator Mohammed Khota said this was the second year they had used the online model of extra tuition, which had a much more extensive outreach nation-wide.

‘These sessions are vital for instilling confidence, boosting morale and lifting final marks, and we always have good buy-in from the educators,’ he said.

• Issued by Hasanian Abdullah, Awqaf SA Projects Co-ordinator