Identification of Mathematical Difficulties among Grade 3 Children

Abstract

The importance of Mathematics is documented in the curriculum as a major concern in grade 12 which is the exit point of General Education Teaching (GET) band. It is important that children acquire the necessary mathematics skills that will serve as foundation for later learning. It is also the South African government’s policy that all children should be taught Mathematics because as it is an important and necessary life skill that cannot be done without. However many teachers are still finding it difficult to teach children to solve mathematical problems. Mathematics performance is a universal outcry in South Africa. Children as early as Foundation Phase are unable to solve mathematical difficulties. In her analysis Naledi Pandor noted in that only 35% of children in South Africa can read, write and count.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p1590