CAPE TOWN – The Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET), with the support of the European Union (EU), will be hosting the Mega Maths Festival 2025 this week — a dynamic national celebration of mathematics as a language of opportunity, connection, and transformation that will be hosted by the University of the Western Cape (UWC), in partnership with, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) South Africa.
Set to take place at UWC’s main campus in Bellville, the Festival will convene learners, educators, researchers, students, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the country to engage with maths not only as a subject but as a tool for shaping futures, especially in under-served communities.
“This festival marks a pivotal moment for maths education in South Africa—it is an opportunity to turn the tide, demystify mathematics and re-ignite interest in mathematics in our learners and scholars”, said Dr Marcia Socikwa, Deputy Director General: University Education.
Over five days, the Mega Maths Festival 2025 will offer a rich and interactive programme designed to inspire and empower both learners and educators.
Professor Robert Balfour, UWC Rector and Vice Chancellor, said: “UWC is grateful for the partnerships with our key stakeholders, the DHET and AIMS, which have enabled this event. Mathematics is indeed our 13th National Language and is one of the key ingredients to economic progress. This festival is therefore critical in terms of its role in promoting mathematics into the mainstream, such that we translate theory into meaningful and inclusive pragmatic interventions across all sectors and communities.”
The national initiative would not have been possible without the critical support of the European Union, whose investment reflects a shared commitment to advancing inclusive, high-quality education. The EU’s partnership has enabled greater reach into communities often excluded from mainstream educational opportunities, ensuring that the festival benefits those who need it most.
Professor Ulrich Paquet, the Director of AIMS South Africa, sees the mathematics community as central to our nation’s growth and prosperity: “South Africa has a vibrant and strong mathematics community. The community has an incredibly important set of responsibilities, from leading school education to enabling frontier-level research and innovation. All of these responsibilities form a coherent base for economic growth. It is exciting to see the Mega Maths festival bring the mathematics community together in a very strategic way.”
AIMS South Africa brings to this dynamic platform its track record and commitment to strengthening the teaching, learning, and research of mathematics in South Africa. AIMS is honoured to support the implementation of this unique national government strategic platform, where diverse multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary local and international actors will collaborate to reinvigorate mathematics education and research across the South African ecosystem — from schools to higher education to industry — all of which are vital parts of the National System of Innovation (NSI).
