Many of these learners went from obtaining dismal marks for mathematics in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examination to enrolling and successfully completing their degree studies in economics, business informatics and information technology.
“The BTMG programme aims to assist grade 12 learners to improve their performance in mathematics and by doing so allow them access to degree programmes that requires a sound mathematical basis, such as BCom and BSc IT,” explains Daleen Gerber, director of the subject group Mathematics and Applied Mathematics within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
“If a prospective student lacks only one point on his or her APS, or if it is only the lower-than-required mark for mathematics that prevents admission, such a student can be admitted provisionally,” says Daleen and explains that after passing the Bridging the Mathematical Gap programme at the beginning of an academic year, the student may enrol for the ordinary programmes within the BCom field and BSc IT. If a student does not pass the bridging programme, but has a final mark of between 40% and 49%, he or she may enrol in one of the extended programmes offered on the campus. (In an extended programme students spread their courses over four rather than three years.)
According to Daleen, who also coordinates the BTMG learning programme, the syllabus of the programme covers not only basic mathematical concepts – which are taught from grade 8 onwards – but also the application of these concepts in accordance with the outcomes specified in the grade 12 curriculum. In short: an intensified focus on the entire mathematical spectrum that will serve as pre-knowledge for the mathematics modules in the BCom and BSc IT curriculums respectively.
Apply today
The next rendition of the learning programme will take place from 6 to 20 January 2018 and interested students should apply before 5 January 2018. The programme costs amount to R3 000 per student. For more information please contact Belinda Lombard on 016 910 3261 or Daleen on 016 910 3267. Alternatively you can send an e-mail to either belinda.lombard@nwu.ac.za or daleen.gerber@nwu.ac.za
More about the programme
The programme – which is offered within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences – was first introduced in 2014 as an intervention aimed to not only better school learners’ understanding of mathematics (and henceforth improve their overall performance in the subject), but also increase access into fields such as commerce and information technology.
Daleen explains that students who enrol for the BTMG learning programme in January 2018 will busy themselves with the curriculum for six hours a day for a two-week period. During this time they will receive intensive coaching – both in group settings and on an individual base – and write various class tests as well as two exam papers to ascertain their level of insight. “The programme sets a minimum required pass rate of 50% for all participants, and I am pleased to say that thus far the programme has maintained a pass rate of 80%,“ says Daleen.
* The programme is only valid for students who want to further their studies at the NWU’s campus in Vanderbijlpark.
