Maths Clubs
Using the power of maths to unlock brighter futures
In many private or former “model-C” schools, learners are often enrolled in costly extra maths classes or programmes, even with access to quality teaching and resources. In under-resourced areas, many children fall behind early and are left without the option of the help they need to catch up. Maths is a subject that builds year on year, so if learners don’t grasp the basics in their early years, they’re unlikely to succeed later. Our TIMCA Maths Clubs aim to change this by starting early, building strong foundations, and shifting mindsets. Many children grow up hearing that “maths is hard” from parents or siblings. We’re here to prove it can be fun, doable, and rewarding.
Our approach
We facilitate small, after-school maths clubs for learners in low resource communities who show aptitude and interest in the subject, helping them deepen their understanding and strengthen their skills. Led by youth coaches from their community, these clubs are more than academic support, they’re lively, engaging spaces where learners build confidence, develop a growth mindset, and learn to collaborate. Through group problem-solving, individual challenges, singing, and interactive games, learners experience maths as something joyful and empowering, laying the groundwork for long-term success.
These maths clubs are:
Effective – Well researched by Rhodes University students with proven results
Low cost – Materials are open source with creative commons license
Engaging – Encourage participation through fun activities in small group
Create employment – Local, unemployed youth are trained to run the clubs
Build Agency – Learners learn to problem solve and think for themselves
Scalable – Designed for South African landscape using inexpensive materials
About the maths clubs
We use a model created by the South African Numeracy Chair Project (SANCP). Originally developed over ten years at Rhodes University by Professor Mellony Graven, Dr Debbie Stott (TIMCA’s Education Director), and a team of postgraduate students, the SANC Maths Club programme is aligned with the national Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), research-backed, and making a real difference. It’s well-run, scalable, and currently being implemented in communities across South Africa.
More than 500 academic research papers have been published on the impact of the Maths Clubs. The results are clear: 74.4% of learners improve their maths scores by more than 9 percentage points, with 10.3% seeing gains of over 50 percentage points. On average, learners improve by 20 percentage points.
This model has also seen great success through OLICO Maths Education, with whom we collaborate closely. OLICO has helped adapt and scale the open-source, SANCP-aligned Maths Club approach, combining in-person support with innovative digital tools like their WhatsApp Maths Hotline.
Based on the continuous learning and development happening daily within the club environment, the programme is constantly being refined and enhanced by TIMCA, OLICO, and other dedicated professionals.
As TIMCA’s Education Director, Dr Debbie Stott remains an integral part of the network of academics and practitioners that continue to develop and grow the programme. Prof. Mellony Graven and her SANC team are advisors to the TIMCA team.
More than maths
But it isn’t just about maths. Through the activities and structure of the Clubs, learners build a wide range of essential life skills. These include problem-solving, collaboration, personal agency, perseverance, and responsibility. They also grow in self-awareness, time management, communication, and teamwork.
At the heart of it all is a growth mindset, encouraging learners to believe in their potential and keep showing up, even when things feel hard.