POOR performances by pupils in mathematics inspired the establishment of the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology several years ago.
It has since helped hundreds of matriculants across the country get distinctions in three of the hardest subjects. The centre, which was founded in 2005, offers extra classes in mathematics, physical science and accounting to grade 10s, 11s and matriculants.
The institute's founder and former headmaster at a Soweto high school, Tumelo Mabitsela, said the centre was inspired by the "horrible performance" of pupils in the subjects.
"I thought I had to do something to help pupils. They were not performing at all in maths and science," Mabitsela, pictured, said.
"The challenge is the time on task. When they are at school they get 45 minutes to attend a subject. At the end of the week, they have had about five to six hours of learning one subject. That is not enough," he said.
Pupils attend extra classes for several hours on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and on school and public holidays. Pupils are taught by well-trained teachers and do assessments.
In 2010 the centre produced 286 distinctions in maths, maths paper 3, physical sciences and accounting.
Out of 700 maths pupils, 162 got distinctions with 92 of them obtaining between 90% and 100%. Ten pupils obtained 100% and 13 obtained 99% for the subject. About 494 students obtained between 50 and 100%.
Out of 160 pupils who sat for the maths paper 3 exam, five obtained distinctions.
Of the 585 pupils who wrote physical science, 109 obtained distinctions with 38 getting between 90 and 100%. Five pupils obtained 100% and 359 pupils obtained between 50 and 100%.
Out of 55 pupils who sat for accounting, 10 obtained distinctions.
In 2009 the centre produced more than 150 distinctions.
"We work with more than 100 schools. They select pupils with potential and the pupils come to the centre for extra lessons," Mabitsela said.
"I am happy with the results and hope to achieve more distinctions from the 2011 matriculants."
Kutlwanong has 22 centres countrywide, except in the Western Cape, and they depend on funding.
Turning the tide on poor results
POOR performances by pupils in mathematics inspired the establishment of the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology several years ago.
It has since helped hundreds of matriculants across the country get distinctions in three of the hardest subjects. The centre, which was founded in 2005, offers extra classes in mathematics, physical science and accounting to grade 10s, 11s and matriculants.
The institute's founder and former headmaster at a Soweto high school, Tumelo Mabitsela, said the centre was inspired by the "horrible performance" of pupils in the subjects.
"I thought I had to do something to help pupils. They were not performing at all in maths and science," Mabitsela, pictured, said.
"The challenge is the time on task. When they are at school they get 45 minutes to attend a subject. At the end of the week, they have had about five to six hours of learning one subject. That is not enough," he said.
Pupils attend extra classes for several hours on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and on school and public holidays. Pupils are taught by well-trained teachers and do assessments.
In 2010 the centre produced 286 distinctions in maths, maths paper 3, physical sciences and accounting.
Out of 700 maths pupils, 162 got distinctions with 92 of them obtaining between 90% and 100%. Ten pupils obtained 100% and 13 obtained 99% for the subject. About 494 students obtained between 50 and 100%.
Out of 160 pupils who sat for the maths paper 3 exam, five obtained distinctions.
Of the 585 pupils who wrote physical science, 109 obtained distinctions with 38 getting between 90 and 100%. Five pupils obtained 100% and 359 pupils obtained between 50 and 100%.
Out of 55 pupils who sat for accounting, 10 obtained distinctions.
In 2009 the centre produced more than 150 distinctions.
"We work with more than 100 schools. They select pupils with potential and the pupils come to the centre for extra lessons," Mabitsela said.
"I am happy with the results and hope to achieve more distinctions from the 2011 matriculants."
Kutlwanong has 22 centres countrywide, except in the Western Cape, and they depend on funding.
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