WCED launches pilot programme to improve early-grade numeracy outcomes

13 October 2025 – Statement by Minister David Maynier, Minister of Education Western Cape

We have launched a pilot intervention to support numeracy across all Foundation Phase teachers and learners in the Western Cape. This follows the success of our early-grade reading interventions for Grades 1, 2 and 3.

As part of the pilot, all Grade 1 teachers at 70 schools from across the province received training this month. A full rollout with training for the remaining Grade 1 teachers in the province will follow next year, and is planned to cover the full Foundation Phase over the next 3 years.

The pilot phase will reach 225 teachers, while the total Foundation Phase rollout will ultimately see training provided to approximately 10 000 teachers across 3 languages. The programme constitutes a direct investment in our Foundation Phase teachers, which will in turn improve the learning outcomes of the children they teach.

The numeracy programme has been developed in partnership with Funda Wande with the support of their “Bala Wande” programme.

In addition to the teacher training, the schools will receive teacher guides, learner books and Maths resource kits to support the new teaching skills, including items such as flashcards, posters and physical objects that can be used to demonstrate mathematical concepts.  

Early learning is a key priority for the Western Cape Government, and our investment in the Foundation Phase seeks to ensure that every learner has a solid foundation in Language and Mathematics before moving on to Grade 4. Without this foundation, learners will struggle to catch up in later grades, affecting their chances of successfully completing their school career. 

On Tuesday 7 October 2025, I visited Axios School of Skills in Eerste River where 52 teachers were receiving training as part of the programme. The sense of purpose and excitement amongst the teachers was evident, and participants reported that the training will make a big difference in their approaches to teaching. 

It was particularly inspiring to see teachers openly sharing their experiences, challenges and solutions with one another, so that they see growth and improvement together as a group. 

We thank all the teachers who have taken up this opportunity with enthusiasm and commitment. Every teacher wants to be a better teacher, and we will do everything we can to improve the skills of our teachers here in the Western Cape!