An ingenious mathematical game based on dominoes has been created and developed here in Hoedspruit by Thias Taute. This game will surely help bridge that gap for individuals, taking them from borderline mathematical illiteracy to mathematical proficiency – sorely needed in a country where almost 50% of learners are failing mathematics in Grade 12. Kruger2Canyon News reports, and is the proud media sponsor of this initiative.
Achievement in mathematics in South Africa has been of massive concern for the last 25 years. Various articles discuss this matter, and multiple international assessments place South Africa amongst the worst-performing countries in the world. Our own National Senior Certificate results indicate a system failing to educate the learners successfully in the basics of mathematics, with a significant fallout of around 50% between Grades 1 and 12. A minimal number of learners achieve a competitive pass in mathematics at the end of their school career. Sadly, of the 10% of all matriculants who take mathematics, even with the significant fallout and a below-average pass rate of 30%, 50% of all the learners do not pass mathematics in Grade 12!
Experiences in education and training as a science and mathematics teacher, headmaster and adult trainer, gave Taute an insight into the disempowering nature of struggling with numbers. This extended from learners who could not count and do basic arithmetic, which leads to a lack of confidence and motivation to learn, to very limited career opportunities after school, to people who could not and cannot prevent their exploitation in a shop or business deal because of an inability to make basic calculations. Many parents who want the best for their children cannot assist them because they do not have basic number skills. This is a daily experience for many, and it is what inspired and continues to inspire Taute to find a solution to deal with this lack of mathematical proficiency in our country!
The DG Murray Trust website’s (https://dgmt.co.za/) description of solutions for these complex and persisting problems is thought-provoking:
“Most South Africans are stuck in an inequality trap, with wealth concentrated in the hands of a few. Most are stuck in intergenerational loops of exclusion with few chances to escape. Breaking this cycle requires a fundamental change in life trajectories. Think of a Möbius strip – just one twist in the circle allows you to trace a completely different pattern.Instead of being stuck inside a loop, you emerge on the outside. In the same way, escaping the inequality trap requires a fundamental twist to set South Africa on a new path. These fundamental changes are called counter-cyclical twists, and they create an escape route out of the inequality trap.”
numiknow™ is trying to be one of the ‘counter-cyclical twists’ for mathematical proficiency. The whole concept is based on dominoes, as an interactive and motivating compendium of games that enables anyone struggling with numbers to develop mathematical proficiency enjoyably.
Domino | The game | Answer |
dotta | 10 and 5 | |
adda | 15 | |
mina | 5 | |
multa | 50 | |
diva | 0.5 | |
perca | 50% | |
fracta | ½ |
The basics of numiknow™ games are the numbers presented by the dots on a domino These numbers can be used in basic mathematical operations (with fun names), to mentally calculate an answer.
The Hoedspruit Hub (HH) and Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region (K2CBR) got the opportunity to participate, under the umbrella of the Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust, in a project funded by The Social Employment Fund that is part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus. The aim of this fund is to support organisations that create work serving the common good in the community.
Work packages comprised numiknow™ clubs, environmental clubs, environmental monitoring, and supporting new and existing food gardens. 330 participants were employed in the project, working in 47 teams in 12 areas between Acornhoek and Sekororo.
To assess the progress in mathematical proficiency in the numiknow™ clubs, competitions between the participants and learners have been initiated. These will take place at different venues during January, March, and June of 2024.
HH and K2CBR will organise the competitions, the first competition of which will take place at the HH on 15 January 2024. Lowveld Academy and German S. Chiloane Secondary School will host the schools’ competitions in March. Area teams will compete in numerous games that will be played.
Spar in Hoedspruit and Acornhoek will provide prize money and printed competition material. Blydevallei Boerdery, Landman Group, and BBI Packers will provide in-season produce as prizes. PostNet will provide limited free and discounted lamination opportunities to material that will be distributed to schools.
Be sure to keep up to date over the next 6 months with the progress of this inspirational and vital project, in further issues of the Kruger2Canyon News.
To contact Thias Taute about numiknow™ you can do so through the Hoedspruit Hub: 072 055 9382 or on email thias@hoedspruithub.com
