The Mathematics discipline within the School of Education held its third annual Maths Further Education and Training (FET) farewell on the Edgewood campus.
The event incorporated the annual Mathematics Excellence Awards in which top performing students are recognised for their academic performance.
Said Professor Sarah Bansilal: ‘Each year, we have over 70 mathematics teachers who qualify to teach at high school level. They have spent four years with us and studied mathematics as well as mathematics education. At this time, we as the mathematics education discipline are sad to be saying goodbye to them as they go out into the world of teaching, since we have spent four years watching them become confident young men and women.
‘Even though we will miss them we know they will be going into KwaZulu- Natal schools to make a difference to the teaching of mathematics in the province,’ she said.
Mr Mohamed Khan, who was recognised and honoured as the top performing student in the discipline, said: ‘I have always loved maths and want to instil a love for the subject among learners, dispelling the fear that maths is difficult. It’s not. One needs to work consistently and understand the subject for it to be enjoyable.’
Khan says he wanted to be a maths teacher from when he was in high school. ‘I was considered to be one of the top maths learners. My fellow classmates would approach me to teach them and I would take on the role of a teacher during lunch breaks and after school.’
Said student Mr Mduduzi Mbatha: ‘You need to love and be passionate about what you teach. As maths educators, we have an important role to enrich the lives of learners. I want to show learners that maths is fun and they can perform well in this area. Together, all of us maths FET teachers can improve the country’s maths results especially among matriculants.’
Photographer: Melissa Mungroo mungroo@ukzn.ac.za
