The DBE’s Mathematics, Science, and Technology (MST) Conditional Grant Team, Mr Menzi Seribe and Mr Fana Masinda, conducted a monitoring and support visit to the OR Tambo MST Academy in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga Province, from 10 to 11 February 2026. The visit forms part of the 2025/26 financial year monitoring cycle for the Cuban MST Specialists Programme.
The Government of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and the Government of the Republic of Cuba entered into a bilateral agreement to strengthen cooperation in critical areas such as health, engineering, and education. Within the education sector, the partnership focuses on deploying Cuban MST Specialists to assist South Africa in improving the teaching and learning of MST subjects. As part of this collaboration, 16 Cuban MST Specialists are currently placed across six provinces under the MST Conditional Grant Programme. The MST Specialists support Subject Advisors and teachers with training and technical support in MST subjects.
The Cuban MST Specialists who are based in the Mpumalanga Province at the MST Academy are: Dr Camelia Virgen Galan Segura, Mathematics FET Specialist; Prof Omar Gonzalo Suarez, Natural Sciences GET Specialist; and Prof Miguel Angel Navarro Perez, Physical Sciences FET.
The Academy prioritises support to underperforming schools across the province, currently focusing on 101 schools. The Academy is well resourced with a fully equipped Mathematics laboratory; Science laboratory; Physical Sciences laboratory; Computer laboratory; Technology laboratory; two lecture halls; a library; and a media studio. These facilities are utilised by both teachers and learners during training sessions, workshops, and academic support programmes.
The objective of the monitoring and support visit to the Mpumalanga Province was aimed at: Assessing implementation and impact of the Cuban Specialists Programme; Providing technical support to specialists and teachers; Attending MST teachers’ training to observe teaching methodologies and share best practices; Strengthening collaboration between the DBE, PEDs, and the Cuban Specialists; and collecting data for reporting to the Presidency, National Treasury, and Parliament.
The Physical Sciences training was facilitated by Dr Phumzile Joyce Maseko, the Deputy Education Specialist at the OR Tambo MST Academy. The training was aimed at enhancing teaching effectiveness in Physical Sciences across Grades 10 to 12. The identified challenges, according to Dr Maseko per grade are difficulties with electrostatics in Grade 10, electricity in Grade 11 and in Grade 12 the focus was on mechanics, specifically vertical projectile.
Mr Selaelo Mabitsi, the lead teacher at Kwandebele Science School, conducted training in Mathematics to empower educators to better deliver the content to learners. The training was also aimed at addressing the methodological gaps in Mathematics teaching, supporting the National Development Plan (NDP) goals of increasing learner participation and performance in MST subjects, mainly in Mathematics and Technology subjects.
According to Mr Omar Gonzalo Suarez, “the main objective and mandate of the programme is to provide methodological support to improve Mathematics, Science, and Technology teaching and learning processes in the Mpumalanga Province”. The academy is also expected to increase the number of learners participating in MST subjects; improve learner performance in these subjects to 50% or above; and integrate ICT into MST subjects and teaching.