Education experts are sounding the alarm over a steep decline in high school mathematics enrolment, warning that the trend could cripple South Africa’s future in science, technology, and engineering.
Data reveals a worrying shift from pure mathematics to mathematical literacy, particularly in under-resourced and township schools. Dr. Muavia Gallie, managing director of Sisopen and an independent education consultant, describes the situation as an “invisible crisis” with long-term consequences for the country’s workforce.
A Steady Decline Over Six Years
Dr. Gallie highlighted that since 2018, mathematics enrolment has dropped from 44% to just 36% of Grade 12 learners—a loss of 8.1% in six years. If the trend continues unchecked, he projects that only 28% of learners will take maths by 2030.
“Mathematics isn’t just a subject—it develops critical thinking and innovation,” said Dr. Gallie. “Mathematical literacy doesn’t provide those skills, yet more students are opting for it.”
A Broken System, Not Just a Teacher Shortage
The problem runs deeper than classroom challenges. Dr. Gallie argues that South Africa’s maths education system is fundamentally flawed, rooted in historical inequalities.
“Under apartheid, Black learners were discouraged from taking maths,” he said. “Today, we’re still trying to fix a broken system rather than rebuilding it.”
Recent international assessments underscore the crisis. In the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), South Africa’s top-performing students scored at the level of the lowest performers in Singapore.
Why Improvement Efforts Are Falling Short
Despite decades of interventions, progress remains sluggish. Dr. Gallie criticised the focus on marginal improvements rather than systemic transformation.
“If you improve from 5% to 10%, you celebrate a 100% increase—but you’re still only at 10%,” he explained. “We need transformative change, not incremental gains.”
A key issue is inconsistent assessment standards. Many schools inflate results by setting easier exams, leaving students unprepared for global benchmarks.
The Way Forward
Dr. Gallie insists solutions exist within South Africa but require urgent action:
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Systemic Overhaul: Move beyond teacher workshops and redesign maths education from the ground up.
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Standardised Rigour: Ensure all schools, rural or urban, teach and assess maths at the same high standard.
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Early Intervention: Address foundational gaps in primary education before learners reach high school.
“This isn’t insurmountable,” he said. “We can fix it in 3–5 years—but we must start now.”
A Crisis Hitting the Poorest Hardest
The decline disproportionately affects underprivileged schools, exacerbating inequality. Without maths, learners face limited opportunities in STEM fields, perpetuating economic disparities.
As Dr. Gallie warned, “If we do nothing, we’ll soon have only a quarter of our students taking maths. That’s not just an education crisis—it’s a national emergency.”