The Wits Maths Connect Secondary (WMCS) Project is a 5-year research and development project that aims to improve the quality of mathematics teaching and the quality of learner performance in Mathematics.
The project runs from 2010 to 2014, and is funded by the First Rand Foundation (FRF) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It is administered by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
Working in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education at both district and provincial level, the project supports teachers from 11 secondary schools in one district in the Johannesburg area.
The project team is led by Prof Jill Adler, a leading researcher in mathematics education in South Africa and internationally. Dr Craig Pournara is the project manager and leads the project’s professional development work. Working together with them is an energetic team of full-time doctoral and post-doctoral fellows, and other post-graduate students all with expertise in secondary mathematics education and research.
A central goal of the project is to strengthen the mathematics pipeline within each school, and from school to university. This means aiming for more learners:
• to choose Mathematics in Grade 10 and to succeed.
• to qualify to study mathematics-related courses at university.
The professional development work that is key to this goal supports Mathematics teachers to improve:
• their mathematical content knowledge.
• the quality of their teaching.
• their knowledge and awareness of key transition points in the curriculum and in mathematics.
More information about the project is available on the The Wits Maths Connect Secondary Project website.
