Fewer than 260 000 of the 1 million learners who started school in 2010 wrote mathematics in 2021, and less than 8 000 learners managed to pass with distinction.
An education expert said that even though South African mathematics is improving at a low rate, the quality of mathematics is improving.
In an interview with ENCA, Professor Nicky Roberts from the Department of Childhood Education at the University of Johannesburg said:
We are improving in relation to terms and in relation to NSC results so we're getting better quality passes in mathematics.
In the recent trends in mathematics and science study, it has been revealed that the current grade 9 learners are performing and improving faster than any other country in the world.
However, Roberts expressed concern over students not going for difficult subjects such as Maths and Physics, rather opting for Maths Literacy, Tourism and Computer-Assisted Technology.
Roberts further encouraged learners to take on maths, irrespective of the qualification that they will choose.
For instance, when applying for post-graduate studies, you must be mindful of the fact that stats will be needed when implementing qualitative methods in your research.
This is the reason that education experts are encouraging learners to be analytic, as this is a skill that they might at some stage in their life.
