Nzimande
By Karabo Marifi
Nzimande Launches 2025 National Science Week, Calls on Teachers to End Fear of Maths and Science. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Blade Nzimande has launched the 2025 National Science Week at the Tshwane University of Technology main campus in the west of Tshwane, urging teachers to help create a love for maths and science in classrooms instead of chasing good matric results for their schools. This comes as the country grapples with a growing crisis where 464 public schools no longer offer maths as a subject, driven by low learner numbers, tight budgets, and a severe shortage of qualified teachers.
A Call to Embrace Maths and Science for National Growth
During his keynote address at the launch on Saturday, Nzimande stressed the need to build a strong foundation in maths and science from an early age to drive South Africa’s development. He warned against the practice of shifting talented learners away from pure maths to easier options like mathematical literacy just to boost school pass rates. “We must not fear math and science. Educators, please help us, don’t say I want to improve the pass rate in my matric by taking out kids, even though they’ve got the potential to do, for instance, what we call pure mathematics, and take them to literacy because you want to improve your results in your school.
“Well, the results of your school may as well improve, but you are depriving the country of the necessary math and science that we need for the development of our country,” the minister added.
Nzimande drew from his own school days under apartheid to highlight how fear held back many, including himself. He shared a light-hearted yet pointed story: “Don’t be like us. Under apartheid, we were so afraid of mathematics. If people ask me –by the way, I did math in matric – so when people ask me, what symbol did you get in math, I tell them proudly that I got an A. But let me clarify what I mean. I got a D in mathematics, but the way I was so afraid of it, that a D was as good as an A to me.”
He called for a mindset shift, pushing for early exposure to these subjects to spark interest and confidence. This, he said, would help tackle the country’s high youth unemployment by producing more skilled workers in fields like engineering, technology, and innovation. Nzimande advocated for spotting top maths and science talents while still in school and giving them extra support, such as placing them in top-notch institutions. “We must not be ashamed to take the cream of our science learners and put them in a first-class institution. If we wish to address our skills development needs and significantly reduce youth unemployment, one of the things we need to do is to ensure that the majority of people can access high-quality methods and science education.”
South Africa could learn from global examples, he noted, where countries invest heavily in nurturing young minds in these areas through special programmes, scholarships, and mentorship. This approach would not only fill skills gaps but also boost economic growth by creating innovators who can solve local problems like energy shortages and climate challenges.
The Growing Maths Crisis in South African Schools
Nzimande’s remarks come against the backdrop of alarming figures revealed by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube in Parliament in May this year. A total of 464 public schools across the country have stopped offering maths, with KwaZulu-Natal hit hardest at 135 schools, followed by the Eastern Cape with 97, Limpopo with 70, and Mpumalanga with 51. Other provinces like Gauteng have 30, North West 28, Free State 25, Western Cape 20, and Northern Cape 8.
The Department of Basic Education points to a mix of reasons: low learner enrolment in the subject, budget cuts that limit hiring, and a nationwide lack of teachers trained in maths. In some cases, schools opt for technical maths instead, especially in technical high schools, but this does not fully replace pure maths needed for university entry in STEM fields. Teacher unions have slammed the department for what they call a chronic failure to address the shortage, accusing schools of pressuring grade 10 and older learners to drop maths to protect overall matric results.
Experts warn of dire long-term effects. Without maths, fewer young people will qualify for careers in engineering, medicine, IT, and finance, widening inequality and deepening the skills gap in a country already struggling with 32% unemployment. This trend could stunt innovation and leave South Africa lagging in global competitiveness. Some schools in rural areas face extra hurdles, like poor infrastructure and lack of resources, making it hard to attract or keep qualified staff. Calls are growing for urgent interventions, such as teacher training drives, incentives for maths educators, and campaigns to make the subject more appealing to learners.
Highlights of National Science Week 2025
This year’s National Science Week runs from 4 to 9 August under the theme “Science, technology and innovation are for everyone.” The event aims to make science open and fun for all, showing how it touches daily life and can solve real-world issues. Held across the country, it includes workshops, exhibitions, talks, and hands-on activities to spark curiosity, especially among youth, women, and people with disabilities.
At the Tshwane University of Technology launch, attendees enjoyed interactive displays of South African breakthroughs in areas like renewable energy, health tech, and space science. Highlights included demos of technologies for people with disabilities, such as assistive devices and apps that improve access to education and jobs. The week focuses on one sub-theme each day: Monday on inclusive innovation, Tuesday on environmental sustainability, Wednesday on health and well-being, Thursday on digital transformation, Friday on space and astronomy, and Saturday wrapping up with community outreach.
Events are free and happen at universities, science centres, schools, and online, reaching even remote areas. Partners like the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement lead the charge, with activities designed to demystify complex ideas and highlight their role in society. For example, learners can join virtual reality tours of space, build simple robots, or learn about climate change through games.
The minister’s office stressed that the week is about building bridges between science and people, encouraging everyone to see themselves as part of the innovation story. This ties into broader goals of the National Development Plan to grow a knowledge-based economy.
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