Former Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, addresses delegates at the Mega Maths Festival at UWC. Image: Shelley Christians

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, urged teachers to keep upskilling themselves and to keep innovating, in a rousing address at the Mega Maths Festival 2025.

Moments before the Former Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, entered the Jakes Gerwel Hall at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), delegates took a break from proceedings to sing and celebrate.

Wednesday, 9 July, was day three of the Mega Maths Festival, and the session was opened by Dr Nkabane, who later introduced Mlambo-Ngcuka.

DHET, in partnership with the EU and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS South Africa), is hosting this five-day, first-of-its-kind International Mathematics in Education Conference at UWC.

Sessions included various topics, including how Mathematical Sciences can fuel innovation, unlocking the potential of the mathematical sciences to support national priorities, and nurturing talent for careers in Mathematical Sciences.

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane. Image: Shelley Christians

Minister Nkabane encouraged the audience of mainly high school mathematics teachers to continue upskilling and innovating in the classroom as they teach, to close the skills mismatch that exists in the learning and teaching of the subject. She said the Mega Maths Festival is part of sharpening teachers’ approaches.

“What we want to do as a country, as part of modernising our education system, as part of rethinking the skills that we produce, we felt it's very important for us to also integrate the skills that we produce into the industry. We will then be able to close the gap of the skills mismatch that we are facing as a country. At the end of the day, when we produce those graduates, as much as we are expanding in terms of access, there must be a balance that leads to success.”

Mlambo-Ngcuka, a UWC alumnus and UWC Gold Medal recipient, thanked the delegates for their warm welcome and reminded them she was one of them.

“It is so nice to be in a room with so many people who love and sing for mathematics. I used to be a teacher myself. I didn’t teach mathematics, but I was aware of its importance. I saw mathematicians in action and the difference that they can make in society,” she said.

“When you are here together, learning from the experts on how best you could learn the subjects, I thought I’d just come peek and say hooray and good luck! I would like to thank the teachers, because without them, the nation would not be anywhere. Whether you are teaching in the school system, at university, or playing another role in the education system, we truly thank you for the contribution that you make.”

DHET has committed to hosting the Mega Math Festival on a regular basis and increasing the scope and reach of the platform to many more mathematics educators.