The Family Math and Family Science Project

Additional partners: Manguang University of the Free State Community Partnership Programme; Free State Education Department; Mathematics Material Development Project.

Partners trained facilitators in two programs designed to educate parents, students, and teachers about the value of science and mathematics and encouraged students to pursue careers in these fields. The partnership established the Regional Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of the Free State, which subsequently trained 560 family math (FM) and family science (FS) facilitators. Activities from FM and FS books were translated into four official South African languages (Afrikaans, isiXhosa, Sesotho, and Setswana). Partners established community-based FM and FS programs in the Greater Bloemfontein area primary schools, where the trained facilitators used the translated materials at workshops for parents and children.

Due to high demand, the project extended its geographic reach and trained facilitators from KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Free State. The South African Qualifications Authority accredited the FM and FS courses, and the Department of Education approved a teacher-training module of 64 credits, of which 16 credits will be in family math and family science counting toward teacher qualification.