The crisis in education in South Africa has to be collaboratively addressed and resolved. The Stellenbosch University Institute for Mathematics and Science Teaching (IMSTUS) is already doing essential work in skills and capacity development in Mathematics and Science education, areas in which South Africa's global ranking is poor. Our country needs high exchange value skills in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields to address the socio-economic challenges of global competitiveness, poverty, inequality, disease and insecurity.
IMSTUS, a not-for-profit organization, was established in 1977 and is part of the Faculty of Education at Stellenbosch University and one of the academic initiatives of The HOPE Project. Its core purpose is to enrich and transform Mathematics and Science education by empowering educators and learners from historically disadvantaged communities through partnerships.
"We believe we make a tangible contribution, as we adopt a long-term, sustainable approach in a country with a dire need for skills in the fields of Mathematics and the Natural Sciences," says IMSTUS Director, Dr. Kosie Smit.
One of the many inspiring programmes through which IMSTUS is making a significant contribution towards eradicating poverty and related conditions as well as contributing to student success is the SciMathUS bridging programme.
Mr Gerald Maarman from Kleinvlei in Eerste River, who completed his MSc degree at SU, tells his story in a DVD recently filmed by SciMathUS to motivate others like himself who come from poor communities. Despite his brother becoming involved in gangsterism and his 15-year-old sister falling pregnant, Maarman held on to his dream, "although it felt like my circumstances at home held me back".
Maarman describes SciMathUS as a transformation process. "It was a ray of hope for me. Now, I can go back to my community and tell young people that, irrespective of your circumstance, you can become the best you can be – there is hope for you."
Dr Bongiwe Tyhala and her three siblings come from a single-parent household. "Life for me and my family has been a challenge. Becoming a medical doctor has been a dream of mine but little did I know how much it required. SciMathUS came to my rescue. I've never met people so caring, compassionate and patient; they got me a pair of glasses because I could not see properly on the writing board or overhead projector. Here I am today and I am happy," said this young medical doctor when she graduated at SU in 2009.
"By expanding the Institute's work to include formal research, we believe that we can make a significant contribution to the global knowledge economy, as well as the transformation of South Africa into a more just and equitable society," says Dr. Smit.