Marion le Roux, an educational psychologist in private practice, is a believer of the fact that educational support by way of identifying barriers to learning, assistance via parental guidance and collaboration with professionals/teachers, is the key to helping children who struggle academically to achieve their God-given potential.
Before she became an educational psychologist, she was employed as a maths and physical science teacher in Pretoria.
“I started my practice in 2001 and relocated to Jeffreys Bay in 2012, where I worked at GLA High School as a science and maths teacher, as well as psychologist.”
She evaluates and works with learners from Grade RR to Grade 12, also offering career counselling for post matric.
Le Roux, who works from Jeffreys Bay (also extending her expertise to schools as far as Humansdorp, Kareedouw and the former Transkei), believes that it is worth the effort to make sure that the mathematical foundation is solid to ensure success for the rest of the academic years, for basic mathematics to be taught when children are in the foundation phase (Grade R to 3) where learners then have 13 years of this subject ahead of them.
In her capacity, Le Roux currently observes many concerning factors.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic linger and there are evident problems occurring due to interrupted teaching during the lockdown periods.
“In all grades, there was less time for educators to explain the mathematical concepts. Learners and their parents had to do a lot of work at home without proper educational support and teaching. Learners are not familiar with times tables; they struggle with most mathematical concepts such as fractions, factorising and algebra. Learners who were in their foundation phase during 2020 and 2021 do not know their bonds (addition and subtraction) as well as they should.”
A point of no return will be reached soon if parents don’t make an effort to acquire help for their children; schools are doing all that they can and offer extra input, but they can only do so much.
“Maths is a number language: if you don’t get exposed to it enough, you don’t learn the language as well as someone who gets a lot of exposure to mathematical concepts, words and practical examples,” said Le Roux.
It is a well-known fact that the careers of the future such as those in the digital world, STEM fields, medical and data/project/design management require mathematics as a Grade 12 subject.
Fewer and fewer Grade 12s in South Africa are selecting mathematics as a subject. In 2019, there were about 256 000 Grade 12 mathematics learners; this number decreased to only 245 000 in 2020.
In 2019, only 28% of Grade 12 learners took mathematics in South Africa. It is important to take action to best rectify this problem.
Le Roux said that there are various options for help in Kouga.
“Parents can contact me for more information about extra maths support. Additionally I have a list of names of centres and individuals who offer maths classes in Kouga. Jeffreys Bay also hosts a successful maths centre for learners from Grade 4 onwards.”
Le Roux saw the need for additional practice in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division for the foundation phase learners and started a maths centre, based on the Japanese system of daily practice and independent learning. This method fosters the mindset of self-learning and cultivates a love for the subject.
The Smart Maths centre is in Jeffreys Bay and is open on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- For more information contact Marion le Roux on 082 607 0081 or email siena.leroux@gmail.com
