By Bulelani Futshane | Starting Chance Programme Coordinator
Starting Chance is thrilled to announce the celebration of its annual flagship month in July, commonly known as Mandela Month. This year's theme focuses on NUMERACY, addressing the significant challenges in early childhood development (ECD) in South Africa. According to the ZENEX Foundation, recent research in Foundation Phase numeracy reveals a concerning mismatch between learner competence and grade-level demands, adversely affecting learning outcomes. This issue arises from an overloaded curriculum that teachers struggle to cover adequately, compounded by a lack of consideration for the initial abilities of young learners in South Africa.
Starting Chance aims to make NUMERACY a fun and enjoyable experience for children, practitioners, and parents. As Katharine Hall, senior researcher at the Children’s Institute and co-author of The SA Early Childhood Review, states: "Many of South Africa’s caregivers live in extreme poverty and face high levels of stress. They carry a huge burden of responsibility in a context where daily life is a struggle and there are multiple risks like shack fires, domestic violence, and illness. To provide the best care possible for their children, caregivers themselves need information, psycho-social support, and access to physical and mental health care services.” The Starting Chance campaign during Mandela Month seeks to improve general attitudes towards mathematics, regardless of social standards.
The Need for Improved Numeracy
Starting Chance is intensifying its efforts to raise awareness about the poor attitudes towards NUMERACY or MATHEMATICS. According to Grow ECD, a significant percentage of ECD centres lack essential materials for effective learning and play, highlighting the need for targeted interventions:
• 34% do not have an outdoor play area with suitable equipment.
• 44% do not have access to age-appropriate books.
• 50% do not have materials for counting.
• 59% do not have theme tables.
• 48% do not have play dough or similar materials.
• 63% do not have instruments for rhythm.
These statistics underscore the urgent need to improve numeracy education and resources in ECD centres.
Mandela Month Activities
This Mandela Month presents an opportunity for Starting Chance to change practitioners' and children's attitudes towards NUMERACY through various engaging activities. The organization has planned several events to engage the ECD community:
Workshops:
1. Workshop for Principals and Practitioners - July 13th
Aimed at equipping principals and practitioners with the knowledge and tools to enhance numeracy education in their centers.
2. Parent Workshop - July 20th
Focused on educating parents about the importance of numeracy and how they can support their children's learning at home.
3. Big Numeracy Event - July 27th
A grand event to celebrate numeracy, featuring interactive activities and games designed to make learning maths fun and engaging for children.
Mandela Day is a pivotal moment for Starting Chance to reflect on and act towards improving numeracy in low-income environments. The organization aims to engage schools in at least 67 minutes of numeracy activities within the daily programmme each week, in honor of Mandela Day.
It is NOT enough to provide workshops. Sustainable activities must continue throughout the year to make changes that will address some of the insights into Numeracy in Low-Income Environments. These include:
• Addressing the gap between learner abilities and curriculum demands.
• Highlighting the importance of starting numeracy education early to build a strong foundation.
Our Practical Approach is to provide:
• Kits and Training: Distributing numeracy kits and offering training on their effective use.
• Site Visits: Ensuring understanding and proper implementation of numeracy activities,
These interventions will further enhance the starting chance for learners to understand and practice pre-mathematical skills that are so critical for future positive performance.
In low income communities, it is often impossible to afford mathematical equipment and games and puzzles. The use of recycling material is an essential alternative. Thus, Starting Chance promotes recycling as a means to support numeracy activities, such as creating counting tools and learning materials from recycled items, which emphasizes sustainability and creativity.
Starting Chance calls on the community and supporters to help us achieve our goals:
Following Mandela's example, please consider using the 67 principle to:
• Donate R67, R670, R6700: Contributions will help provide 100 numeracy kits to 27 schools.
• Volunteer 67 minutes, 670 minutes: Assist with organizing and conducting workshops and events.
• Spread the Word - 67 min on a SM platform, 670 min on a fundraiser: Raise awareness about the importance of numeracy and our initiatives.
By supporting Starting Chance, you are helping to build a brighter future for children through enhanced numeracy education. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of young learners and honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela.
Starting Chance's Mandela Month celebration is a crucial initiative to improve numeracy skills among young learners in South Africa. By engaging educators, parents, and the community, and through targeted interventions, we aim to overcome the challenges in numeracy education and create a positive impact.
Please join us in this mission to empower children with the essential skills they need for a successful future.
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