Mathematical Literacy

HOD: Mr D Venter

Compulsory: Yes (either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy)

Does it count for APS: Yes, full points awarded

Required for further studying: No, but there are various university and college degrees that can be studied with Maths Literacy.

Useful for: Extremely useful for practical, everyday life.

Practical component: No

Special requirements/recommendations: Daily practice.

More details:

Mathematical Literacy develops competencies that allow individuals to make sense of, participate in and contribute to the twenty-first century world – a world characterised by numbers, numerically based arguments and data represented and misrepresented in a number of ways. Such competencies include the ability to reason, make decisions, solve problems, manage resources, interpret information, schedule events and use and apply technology. Learners will be exposed to both mathematical content and real-life contexts to develop these competencies. Mathematical content is needed to make sense of real-life contexts; on the other hand, contexts determine the content that is needed.

Mathematical Literacy should enable the learner to become a self-managing person, a contributing worker and a participating citizen in a developing democracy. The teaching and learning of Mathematical Literacy provides opportunities to analyse problems and devise ways to work mathematically in solving such problems. Opportunities to engage mathematically in this way will also assist learners to become astute consumers of the mathematics reflected in the media. Mathematical Literacy does not close the door to tertiary study – there is a wide variety of courses that can be taken by candidates with Mathematical Literacy.