The third iteration in the Hoedspruit area of the Social Employment Fund (SEF 3), part of South Africa’s Presidential Employment Stimulus, is under way in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region. Running from November 2025 to July 2026, the project builds directly on lessons learned during SEF 1 and SEF 2, with a strong focus on mathematical proficiency through the numiknow® approach.
SEF 3 is implemented through a partnership between Hoedspruit Hub, the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, Greater Stellenbosch Trust, Citizen Connect and media partner Kruger2Canyon News. The project involves 300 previously unemployed participants from the Acornhoek and Ga-Sekororo areas, while also supporting early childhood development centres and learners in Grades 4 to 9.
Evidence from the previous SEF phases showed that learners and adult participants who regularly played numiknow® games demonstrated improved numeracy levels. In several schools, mathematics marks improved in Grades 5 to 7 where numiknow® clubs were implemented effectively.
These findings confirmed that structured, game-based learning can support both informal numeracy and formal curriculum outcomes. They also highlighted the value of learning environments that reduce anxiety around mathematics and encourage exploration, discussion and play.
At the same time, the data revealed important gaps. Many learners struggled with basic number sense, including place value, fractions and estimation. In higher grades, challenges were evident in areas such as variables, probability, patterns and working with positive and negative numbers. Experience also showed that while digital tools are valuable for tracking progress, they work best when focused purely on learning, without social media or other distractions.
These insights directly informed the refinement of numiknow® for SEF 3. Foundational tools such as abacuses, fraction blocks and number rollers have been added to strengthen basic number sense. The game set has also been expanded, particularly for Grades 7 to 9, with new games covering variables, probability, estimation, patterns and integer values.
The seven new game icons
A new numiknow® website and a redesigned application featuring 23 games are being rolled out in 2026. SEF 3 participants will have unlimited access, while learner access is intentionally limited and data-driven, allowing facilitators to monitor progress responsibly. The platform is available in English, Sepedi and Afrikaans, with further translations encouraged. If you are interested to improve the current translations or assist with the translation into another South African language, please feel free to contact us (details below).
Implementation during SEF 3 is more structured than before. Sixty numiknow® clubs will operate in 20 schools. Daily sessions rotate between basic number sense, coding with dominoes and numiknow® game play, ensuring a balance between enjoyment, foundational skills, logical thinking and problem-solving.
Beyond clubs, numiknow® will also be implemented in two additional primary schools to support the normal mathematics curriculum. An enrichment programme for selected learners will further extend learning opportunities.
Monthly feedback articles in Kruger2Canyon News will track progress across the different numiknow® initiatives. Together, these activities reflect a clear shift from pilot learning to deliberate scaling.
In short, 2025 demonstrated that numiknow® works. In 2026, the focus will be on applying those lessons with intention – strengthening foundations, extending curriculum coverage and embedding mathematical proficiency as a shared community asset.
For more information, visit https://numiknow.com, try the games at https://play.numiknow.com or contact Thias Taute at thias@hoedspruithub.com.
