Simplified study guide equals success for maths students

Written by Silusapho Nyanda

Pupils doing grades 11 and 12 now have the chance to do better in mathematics, thanks to a simplified study guide.

Mathematics with Nqayiya is an easy-to-use simplified maths paper 2 study guide developed by Nelson Mandela University master’s student Awonke Nqayiya (25). 

Nqayiya is from Seku Village in Centane in the Eastern Cape and his rural background made him aware of how often pupils in rural areas struggle to grasp maths concepts. As a schoolchild, he too experienced first-hand the challenges that come with not having study resources like computers and science laboratories.

When he was doing part-time maths tutoring after matriculating, he saw how quickly his pupils came to understand basic maths concepts but realised that he could only help a limited number of learners through face-to-face tutoring.

Determined to assist as many youngsters as possible, he set about creating a study guide in which concepts are explained in a way that is simple enough for all.

Nqayiya says: “Maths paper 2 is often the most complicated and difficult to grasp. A lot of rural pupils find it sophisticated and they don’t have access to the internet, which would help them understand it better. 

“Paper 2 is composed of statistics, analytical geometry, trigonometry and Euclidean geometry, which are not easy to understand.”

The 300-page study guide was developed over four years. Nqayiya says the self-published book will be adapted at the end of the year, if necessary, after reviewing comments from learners who used the guide.

He says that once he has perfected this study guide, he will start working on the maths paper 1 study guide.

The methods Nqayiya uses were taught to him by his teachers at Gobe Commercial High School in Centane. He says their techniques made it really easy for him to understand maths.

“They helped me and my classmates achieve great results. I have taken their techniques and put them in this book so that a bigger audience can be reached,” Nqayiya explains.