REFILWE MEKOA
Free State MEC of Education Tate Makgoe says pupils will be able to realise that the x can stand for anything and that the subject is abstract.
He says once a pupil does well in mental mathematics, he or she will excel in high school. Makgoe was speaking at the second provincial Mental Maths Whiz Kids competition on Saturday in Bloemfontein.
He says they are preparing each of the 78 learners who took part to conquer the subject in the future. He says mental mathematics is the ability to do complex calculation without using a calculator.
“Your brain is the most important calculator that you have. These children are able to resolve very complex situations and that’s how mental mathematics works. It empowers you in your daily life. The most important thing is that you don’t have to know mathematics as a parent, what you have to do is just to support your child and you will be able to see whether they are doing right or wrong,” he says.
Makgoe says the competition forms part of the Maths for All campaign launched in 2013 encouraged to study mathematics.
He says it is to reinforce basic competence in mathematics in the through constructive play and involving pupils in fun way of learning.
