GDE to focus on improving mathematics in schools

Johannesburg
Kgomotso Modise

Kgomotso Modise

14 January 2026 | 7:35

The province has been celebrating its results, having come third in the country with a 89.06 percent pass rate.

GDE to focus on improving mathematics in schools

Top achievers celebrations in Gauteng after coming third in the country 13 January 2026. Picture: GDE

The performance of Gauteng pupils in mathematics has been flagged as cause for concern by the education department.

The province has been celebrating its results, having come third in the country with a 89.06 percent pass rate.

But while a steady increase can be seen in the performance of most students, including in subjects such as physical science, a 6 percentage point decline to 66.7 percent was recorded for maths.

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MEC Matome Chiloane said that while the 2025 maths paper was tough, that cannot be an excuse.

"We are fixing this. We will expand the secondary school improvement programme into Grades 9 and 10, focusing on intensive mathematics support earlier, before matric pressure becomes about points rather than learning. We will start earlier. We will coach harder. We will create the conditions for 10,000 hours of deliberate practice in the subjects that most matter."

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