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Vision
To be a Centre of excellence in mathematics and education for equipping
teachers and learners with materials and programmes in order to develop
a higher competency and performance in mathematics.
Mission
To create mathematically literate & functional learners who will be
successful in a business world that relies on calculators, computers and
mathematical procedures and where mathematics is rapidly growing and is
extensively applied in diverse situations.
Aims
- To enhance teacher competencies and professionalism in mathematics
within a whole school context through an intensive classroom and workshop
based Key Teacher Development programme.
- To demonstrably enhance learner performance, through a systematic
monitoring of learner progression.
- To produce high quality, effective and efficient teaching and learning
materials for Grades R - 12.
- To develop a self - sustainable Mathematics and Education centre
in each province.
History and Summary of Services
Maths Centre began its life as a very small outreach project from Auckland Park School (1985 – 1995) under the directorship of its retired Principal: Mrs. Patchitt. Some of the facilities of the school were extended to Soweto educators. In the 80’s and early 90s, several facilitators traveled to Soweto, guiding and supporting educators for learning computers and investigative mathematics. A set of learner support materials and booklets were produced. Impressed by this, ESKOM funded a provincial project in Witbank, Mpumalanga.
Sharanjeet Shan, an educationist from Britain, was invited to South Africa by the newly born AMESA (Association of Maths Educators of South Africa) to launch the organisation. In 1995 she was invited to take up the post as the National Executive Director of the Maths Centre primary project. Her brief was to refocus and structure the project as an organisation that will play a major role in the new dispensation of mathematics education in a whole school context.
Maths Centre for Professional Teachers was born. The organisation is generally known as MCPT.
- In 1996, three new centres were opened in the North West province, Gauteng and Mpumalanga with the support of ABSA, ESKOM and Nedbank Foundation.
- In 1997, another three centres were launched in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal with the support of the Zenex Foundation.
- In 1998, the Free State centre was born funded by ABSA and ESKOM.
- In 1999, Zenex Foundation and Eskom Foundation funded the production of materials. Maths Centre began a process of self-sustainability through selling materials and books to departments of education.
- In 2001, Maths Centre won a large contract from the Business Trust for the High Schools Programme; which delivered Maths and Language to 525 High schools in all nine provinces. In 2002, 2003 and 2004, Maths Centre produced some of the best ever Matric Higher Grade and Standard Grade results in South Africa.
- In 2001, a R5 million contract was won with Old Mutual for improving primary school Maths in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. When this project was completed, Old Mutual funded a major initiative called “Out of the Box: MST for environment education” with the Maths Centre as service provider.
- In 2003, UBS funded the production of materials for Senior and FET phases. Maths Centre materials are OBE approved by departments of education throughout the country.
- In 2003 Maths Centre gained a grant from Datatec for buying its own building and began working with Science and Technology as well as language support at FET level.
- In 2004, Maths Centre was supported by Murray & Roberts and IBM to construct a technology lab for teacher training.
- In 2004, Maths Centre won a contract with Umsobomvu Youth Fund for Business Entrepreneurship for in-school learners: a direct poverty alleviation programme for 1800 learners; 120 teachers in 3 provinces.
- In 2005, Maths Centre began a programme of degree and ACE courses in partnership with NMMU (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) and Zenex Foundation for training more than 90 teachers in B.Ed in Maths and Science. Mpumalanga Department of Education and NW Department of Education have funded some 700 teachers to do an ACE in Mathematical Literacy with the Maths Centre and NMMU.
- In 2006, Maths Centre is conducting mini- Technology Olympiads to feed into the very prestigious national competition funded by Murray & Roberts and South African Institute for Mechanical Engineers. Black African learners from disadvantaged backgrounds are taking part for the first time ever.
- In 2006, a major project with Telkom has begun for its 27 schools throughout the country.
- 2007 marked the selection of 100 top maths and science learners in each of the following provinces: North West, Free State, Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal. Transnet is sponsoring the training of these learners to improve performance in maths, science and english over a 2 year period.
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