By Tinkwe
Numeric's newly appointed CEO: Tori Gardner
Launched in 2012, Numeric has quietly but powerfully changed the landscape of mathematics education in South Africa, reaching a significant milestone in 2024 by securing over R100 million in funding since its inception. This investment is dedicated to addressing the country’s maths skills shortage through an approach that focuses on learners in their late primary school years, aiming to instil confidence and competence.
Newly appointed CEO, Tori Gardner, has expressed her enthusiasm for Numeric’s journey and future, and says, “Numeric’s work is fundamentally about equipping young South Africans with the skills and self-belief they need to excel. The R100 million milestone is more than a financial achievement – it’s a commitment to continue strengthening the foundation of maths education in this country.”
Over the past 12 years, the company has grown into a respected thought leader in maths education, pioneering an in-person teaching model that is highly effective. 24 000 learners have participated in their year-long intensive after-school maths programme to date, and the programme has trained 980 future teachers across 85 partner schools in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and Gauteng. This focused intervention strategy targets learners in grades 6 and 7, supporting them with a two-year programme that builds essential maths foundations.
Central to their success is the ‘Numeric effect’: by nurturing maths skills early, they not only boost academic confidence among learners but also inspire teaching interns, many of whom go on to become great teachers – and this ripple effect is critical as South Africa faces a teaching crisis. Their research shows that this approach contributes to lower dropout rates, higher matric maths enrolment, and an increase in students achieving a 60% or higher pass rate in matric maths.
Former CEO, Kristen Thompson adds, "The company has always been focused on developing people and making maths fun for learners and teachers. The 'Numeric effect' doesn't just build skills, it builds a sense of possibility, for both the young minds we teach and the future teachers we inspire.”
“As we look to the future, I am excited to carry this incredible work forward,” Tori concludes. “The challenges in maths education are complex, but with every learner we reach and every future teacher we train, we’re making a lasting difference.”Numeric’s three-part model consists of direct learner engagement, teaching internships, and a supportive alumni network, all of which create a pipeline for sustained educational impact. Through this approach, the organisation aims to produce not just maths-literate students but a generation of empowered, skilled individuals ready to thrive in South Africa’s evolving economy.
For more information about Numeric's initiatives and impact, visit numeric.org.
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