Cape Town - Western Cape high schools specialising in maths can now qualify for cash rewards if they boost their results in the subject or increase the pupil retention rate.
The incentives are aimed at increasing the number of pupils doing maths, retaining maths pupils and improving maths performance, said Bronagh Casey, spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant.
She said Dinaledi-main and Dinaledi-incentive schools whose Grade 10 to 12 results improved, could qualify for the money.
The 48 Dinaledi schools in the province focus on maths and science. Dinaledi main schools receive funding from the Department of Basic Education, while the incentive schools are funded by the Western Cape Education Department. About R1 million has been budgeted for incentives.
Casey said if the number of pupils entering Grade 10 and taking maths increased by between six and 10 pupils compared to the previous year’s Grade 10 enrolment, they would receive R5 000. If the increase was more than 30 pupils they would receive R10 000.
They could also receive a bonus of up to R20 000 for retaining maths pupils between Grade 10 and matric.
Schools that showed an increase of more than five pupils achieving more than 50 percent in maths in the matric exams would also receive cash.
Phadiela Cooper, principal of the Centre of Science in Technology in Khayelitsha, said:
“If the quality of maths passes will go up then this (the incentives) is a good thing.”
Cape Argus