Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Correspondent
As South Africa’s education system faces ongoing pressures, Awqaf SA has stepped in to address the much-needed educational demands of learners. Now in its 11th year, the community-based organisation’s flagship Maths Workshop series is ready to kick off this weekend by providing support to Grade 10-12 learners across the country.
These critical interventions have reached learners in places such as Soweto, Ladysmith, Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha. Hosted locally in association with the Western Cape Education Department, the goal is to assist learners who are struggling to understand Maths, as well as those who have potential in Maths.
“The high numbers of attendance over the past decade show that the workshops are making their mark”, said Awqaf SA’s CEO, Mickaeel Collier.
“As a community-based organisation, our role is to fill the gaps when the system is under pressure. The learners are eager to improve, and we are proud to lead this intervention.
“Careers of the futures such as STEM (Science, Technology and Medicine) all require Maths. Despite South Africa’s economic potential, poor learner performance widens the country’s skills gap and the growing high youth unemployment rate,” said Collier.
“Awqaf SA’s workshop series confronts this challenge by giving learners the strategy and confidence to approach their exams like a ’War room,” stated Maths Facilitator, Mohammad Khota.
“This life-changing experience lays a well-planned foundation for the learners’ futures.”
Collier said that the driving force of the project has been Khota. And that with his unique brand of humour, he has transformed thousands of learners’ approach to Maths. Through him, they have acquired an understanding for complex Maths concepts and built an affinity for the subject.
Following a successful 2025 workshop series, where 85 000 learners benefitted, and a record 700 learners participated at Spine Road High, the 2026 series is set to equal, if not increase its impact.
The partnership between Awqaf SA, the Western Cape Education Department, Spine Road High, Portlands High and Luhlaza High School continues to strengthen the Maths ecosystem.
What makes the sessions accessible is that they are hosted as hybrid sessions. There is an in-person cohort at schools, completed by a larger audience who log on via Awqaf SA’s YouTube platform.
Registration is free, making this Maths education available to any learners with access to an internet connection.
An annual competition assesses the impact of the intervention. Armani Rahman, a Grade 12 learner, scored 97% in her final Maths exam. She is now studying Medicine. Jayda Lee Pillay from Strandfontein High School scored 87%. In Grade 12 this year, she aspires to study Actuarial Science at UCT.
This bears testament that learners have benefited from this model. Furthermore, learners have been able to realise their full potential by unlocking scholarships, bursaries and university placements.
Workshop
This workshop caters for grades 10, 11 and 12. This will be a hybrid session where learners will be in person at the school venues and for learners who will attend via YouTube.
Grade 12: Venue: Spine Road High School, Maths Paper 1 (Algebra), Saturday, 23 May 2026 – 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. Maths Paper 2 (Geometry), Sunday, 24 May 2026 – 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Grade 11 Venue: Portland’s High School, Maths Paper 1 (Algebra), Saturday, 30 May 2026 – 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. Maths Paper 2 (Geometry), Sunday, 31 May 2026 – 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Grade 10: Venue: Luhlaza High School, Maths Paper 1 (Algebra), Saturday, 6 June 2026 – 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. Maths Paper 2 (Geometry). Sunday, 7 June 2026 – 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
The classes are free. Online registration is required to confirm in-person attendance and to obtain the YouTube stream links. For more information, visit: https://awqafsa.org.za/mathsmay2026/
