Matric Maths disaster looms

[Kosmik]

But that is nothing new. It was the same 25 years ago. You only learned more if you were lucky enough to get a good teacher or you had educated parents who could teach you beyond the rote learning at school.

So all modern teachers are bad and parents had time to teach schoolwork to their kids? Rubbish. The syllabus has changed and not for the better. You can be the greatest teacher in the world but if your instructed to teach in a certain manner and the materials are poor, you are going to struggle.

 

[noxibox]

“ we are tired of trying to help children we are not allowed to fail them discipline them or try corrective measures.. So we pass them and make it the states problem at the end of grade 12.”

According to a headmaster I know this trend is across the board. Incidently, this was his last year year as a headmaster in a state school, from next year he will be a headmaster for one of the larger private school groups, he had had enough of all the BS.

My friends who are teachers in the UK said pretty much the same thing about UK government schools.

The funny thing is that universities themselves make it too easy to get into heavily mathematical disciplines such as engineering and BSc's. For instance at UCT, you need something like 45 points to get into engineering, and minimum of a 'B' in Maths and science. But UCT doubles the points for maths and science (8-A(>90), 7-A(80-90), 6-B) and so on) so basically you have a A in Maths (you should really be getting 90%+ in matric maths to cope with engineering maths IMO) and Science, it's already 28 points (7*2*2,) and so you can get in with 4Cs in your other subjects. If you getting 4Cs with this standard of matric, you're really not going to cut it in engineering.

It depends entirely what those other subjects are. Even getting 90% in matric mathematics does not prepare someone for university. We've completely failed to address the huge deficiencies that existed in schooling in this country 25 years ago. And that is in the good quality white schools. The black schools were not even up to that poor standard. It is quite scary if the claim that our white schools were once topnotch relative to the rest of the world is true. It means essentially that schooling everywhere was substandard and completely failing to prepare students for university.

Also thinking about it, universities do engage in moderating the marks as well. I know of a person who does engineering and he had 90% for his coursework, which counts 40% towards the final mark. Yet he ended up getting 100% overall which is obviously BS. About 6 engineers got that mark for 1st year maths.

Of course the universities do it. If they determine that the paper was too difficult the marks are adjusted.

 

[noxibox]

So all modern teachers are bad and parents had time to teach schoolwork to their kids? Rubbish. The syllabus has changed and not for the better. You can be the greatest teacher in the world but if your instructed to teach in a certain manner and the materials are poor, you are going to struggle.

It was the same 25 years ago. You only learned more if you were lucky enough to get a good teacher or you had educated parents who could teach you beyond the rote learning at school. So it matters not that the syllabus has changed. The schools were filled with bad teachers in decades past. Were they really the greatest teachers, but sadly saddled with poor materials and instructed to teach in a certain manner?

Why would all modern teachers be bad? By modern you mean in the last 500 years or further back than that?

 

[Kosmik]

It was the same 25 years ago. You only learned more if you were lucky enough to get a good teacher or you had educated parents who could teach you beyond the rote learning at school. So it matters not that the syllabus has changed. The schools were filled with bad teachers in decades past. Were they really the greatest teachers, but sadly saddled with poor materials and instructed to teach in a certain manner?

Why would all modern teachers be bad? By modern you mean in the last 500 years or further back than that?

I disagree with you, sorry. The syllabus is the root of this problem. Most comments on this forum already detail this point and the alternative is different syllabus and it's examinations. There are good teachers, both now and then but a teacher is only as good as the syllabus they can teach and the pupils they work with. Discipline is also a problem in a lot of schools. The removal of corporal punishment was, in my opinion, a stupid thing. I am in no way advocating child abuse but there is a difference in abusing and disciplining a child.

Whats the same then as now, is that if a pupil genuinely wanted to learn, they would make it happen.

 

[dlk001]

True this. I thrived in maths only after someone managed to teach me the context of what I was doing instead of just methodically. Only then it came alive to me. I think ironically route type method learning rewards lack of imagination rather than intelligence.

I had the same problem. In standard 9, I got less than 45% for both Maths and Science. I thought that was the end of it until William Smith opened my eyes. In matric I got "A".

 

[noxibox]

I disagree with you, sorry. The syllabus is the root of this problem. Most comments on this forum already detail this point and the alternative is different syllabus and it's examinations. There are good teachers, both now and then but a teacher is only as good as the syllabus they can teach and the pupils they work with. Discipline is also a problem in a lot of schools. The removal of corporal punishment was, in my opinion, a stupid thing. I am in no way advocating child abuse but there is a difference in abusing and disciplining a child.

So what was the excuse of teachers of my day? And how do good schools still manage to do well today with this allegedly completely broken syllabus that is unteachable?

I fully support the removal of corporal punishment. I saw how ineffective it was in the hands of teachers who complied with the law. It worked only when teachers broke the law. Better that it be banned completely.

 

[BrightSparkz]

2011 Matric Examinations

Hi there, just letting you all know who are rewriting or wanting to rewrite, that the closing date for the November FInal exams - to register as a private candidate is 15 March 2011.

If you are rewriting now in Feb/March it might be a good idea to register for the November exams as well. (BEFORE 15 March 2011)

For all those who wrote in 2008, you wrote the NEW syllabus BUT your year marks are only valid for 3 years to qualify for a rewrite at the end of the year. THIS IS YOUR LAST YEAR YOU CAN REWRITE ANY SUBJECT BASED ON YOUR YEAR MARKS FROM 2008.

So what then?

Then, really not so good news. If you are now in Year 4 with your matric results in the new syllabus, you CANNOT rewrite any of your subjects with that certificate. YOU HAVE TO get new year marks for Grade 10,11 & 12.

So, if you wrote in 2009, next year is your last year that your results will be valid. If you wrote in 2008, this year is the last year.

If for e.g. you did Maths Literacy and now need / want Maths as a Matric subject, guess what ... you have to get year marks for Grade 10, 11 & 12 for that subject.

How? Well, we're looking into it and so far, the only people who can help you this year is FET colleges, Damelin, Intec. But I doubt they will do all 3 grade years in one.

I am a manager of a Maths & Science Academy in the Northern Suburbs, and we are going to start November preparation classes THIS YEAR for Matric Maths & Science for those whose matric certificate year marks are still valid (3 years & less).

Because we have received so many queries from students desperate for help, we are now looking into helping Old Syllabus folk, those who never did Maths for those years, or who did Maths Lit and need to upgrade, or whose year marks expired the previous year (which will be the 2008 graduates next year).

If you want to keep updated about this, I post updates on our facebook fanpage and in the notes section so people can refer to it and know what to do.

You would not believe the lack of information out there. I am literally inteviewing key people in the industry to compile a proper information package together for those who must rewrite or upgrade etc.

Last note, apparently the Minister of Education announced that the Old Senior Certificate will be replaced by an Adult Certificate. I heard this was a recent development so I dont know anything about it yet unfortunately. Like I said, become a fan of our fanpage, and when I know whats cooking I'll let everyone know.

I bet you're wondering about the old syllabus exam. I'll tell you

The old syllabus (up until 2007) rewrite exams are in May/June 2011 but registrations closed last year Sept/Oct sometime around there - I'm not sure exactly when it was, probably irrelevant now anyhow. I asked the Education Dept if there will be another one and they said NO, this is the absolute last one. However, they are not too sure as things could change. That is where the announcement about the Adult Certificate comes in - no news there yet from my side but I WILL find out

I'm not totally sure if they will allow old syllabus graduates to rewrite e.g just Maths /Science in the new syllabus (obviously with the year marks of Gr 10, 11 & 12). Apparently you cant mix the 2 certificates. But hopefully that does not mean you cannot re-do the year marks and get new valid year marks even if you wrote matric before 2008. Let's see?

The best way is to LIKE our page through our website http://www.brightsparkzacademy.co.za. If you need to do a preparation course for Maths and/or Science before November, get my details on the website (I cant advertise in this forum). We're running a 5 - 7 month course - quite intense and very worthwhile if you need to pass with higher marks to get into varsity or change your career or study path.

ALL THE BEST TO EVERYONE WHO IS TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. I SALUTE YOU!!!

 

[Palimino]

Stop complaining and be glad that the standard is high. If people fail its because they are not ready to move on. Our economy needs people with strong math skills, not a couple hundred thousand that think they are good in maths and really don't no that 2+2=4.

Speaking as someone whose math skills suck, I would tend to agree. There seems to be a strong correlation between maths skills and competence.

 

[Palimino]

Well perhaps things are different now, but back in the dark ages we did not have the option of not taking maths and as I recall a fail in maths was a fail in the exams.

The bright boys were able to make sense of this stuff - but couldn't wire a three pin plug, change a flat tyre or iron a shirt.

Nowadays they don't even go to the army so I really hope they find algebra advantageous 'cos they are taught squat about anything really useful.

This is soooo true!

 

[Palimino]

...but he'd better be damn good at maths.

Rubbish! Mental arithmetic is sufficient.

 

[Palimino]

The army is the lowest denominator.

It teaches personal limits that you would never push yourself to unless driven.

“I can do/endure this. I’ve suffered worse in the SADF.”

 

[Palimino]

So you've never bought tiles in your life then?

What about the formula for area? Length x breadth? Grade 7 arithmetic.

A kitchen is 4 metres x 3 metres = 12 square metres of tiles required. Include an extra sq. metre for breakages/fudge factor. 13 sq. metres. QED.

 

[ponder]

There seems to be a strong correlation between maths skills and competence.

Because it requires logical & analytical thinking which is in short supply out there.

 

[reagan1]

HELP 2011 matric examinations registration

Hi please can you help me i wrote matric in 2008 and passed. In order to enter a learnership i need mathematics and not mathematics literacy? (which i did) i did not know about the deadline and id like to know what i can do to be able to re write mathematics. please help?

 

[reagan1]

HELP 2011 matric examinations registration

Hi please can you help me i wrote matric in 2008 and passed. In order to enter a learnership i need mathematics and not mathematics literacy? (which i did) i did not know about the deadline and id like to know what i can do to be able to re write mathematics. please help?

 

[Hard Rain]

HELP 2011 matric examinations registration

Hi please can you help me i wrote matric in 2008 and passed. In order to enter a learnership i need mathematics and not mathematics literacy? (which i did) i did not know about the deadline and id like to know what i can do to be able to re write mathematics. please help?

I think you should go to this website and ask those folks for some help: http://www.brightsparkzacademy.co.za/