The DBE hosted a three-day Mathematics, Science and Technology Conditional Grant (MSTCG) interprovincial seminar from 28 to 30 January 2025, at its conference centre in Pretoria. The seminar brought together educational specialists, provincial managers and industry leaders to share insights on budget utilisation, challenges faced and strategies to enhance the impact of the MSTCG in schools.
Discussions on the first day focused on reports from the PEDs on how their respective provinces have utilised the allocated budgets, teacher and learner support activities undertaken and performance in the 2024 NSC examination. Whilst the grant has achieved significant milestones, with positive impact reported by most provinces, its implementation has not been without challenges. The procurement of resources, the need for more specialised teacher training and the importance of maintaining and upgrading ICT infrastructure in schools are some of the ongoing issues that need urgent attention. A recurring theme during the seminar was the growing demand for funding to sustain and expand programmes, particularly as schools adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s technological demands.
Measuring the impact of the programmes and activities funded through the grant was the core topic on the second day. With some provinces having reported a decline in the number of learners taking up Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Mr Seliki Tlhabane, Chief Director for MST and Curriculum Enhancement Programmes, urged officials to come up with creative ways of increasing the participation rate, not only in these subjects, but also in technical subjects, including those in the occupational and vocational streams. “It is our role as the Department to provide learners with various pathways leading them to the world of work. Through our varied curriculum offerings, we can redirect learners towards TVET colleges and skills-based self-employment, which would assist with the current admission challenges universities are experiencing,” he said.
Ms Elspeth Khembo, Director for MST and E-Learning, commended the provincial managers for their dedication, and shared valuable insights into national-level strategies to complement provincial efforts. Concluding the seminar, Ms Khembo reflected on the success of the seminar and put emphasis on the need to ensure that there’s alignment between the grant’s outputs and the educational focal points of the 7th Administration, including teacher performance, time on tasks, and technology integration to enhance the teaching and learning of MST subjects towards the improvement of learning outcomes and the achievement of the National Development Plan (NDP) targets.