Episode 49 Maths Lit It Up

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This episode of Level Up - Maths Lit It Up (Episode 49 aired on August 16, 2026) explores two significant educational and digital topics that sparked internet debate this week.

 


 

1. Instagram's New Word Mark

  • The Change: Instagram updated its text logo on August 13, 2026, moving away from a decade-old script design to a cleaner, more modern look that blends cursive and print (3:16-4:05).
  • The Debate: The hosts discuss a theory that the shift might be related to Gen Z's declining ability to read and write in traditional cursive (7:41-9:30). They highlight that many educational systems, including those in the US and parts of South Africa, have moved away from mandatory cursive instruction (9:05-13:00).

2. The Math Literacy Debate in South Africa

  • Context: The hosts clarify the history of the South African grading system, distinguishing between the pre-2008 Higher Grade/Standard Grade system and the current Pure Mathematics vs. Mathematical Literacy track (17:17-20:36).
  • The Problem: Former Education Minister Naledi Pandor and other experts argue that Mathematical Literacy incentivizes students to abandon Pure Mathematics, ultimately creating a barrier to entry for STEM degrees (22:08-25:35).
  • Real-World Impact: The hosts share a personal anecdote about a struggle to get a store manager to accurately calculate a simple percentage discount, arguing that this reflects a broader, concerning decline in numeracy skills caused by relying on "easier" curriculum options (33:38-37:18).
  • Conclusion: The hosts emphasize that education is a powerful societal equalizer and argue that students should be supported in pursuing Pure Mathematics rather than opting for the bare minimum (41:51-42:15).

Listen to Level Up with Ziyaad, Nabihah, and Isa Plaatjes on Radio Islam International MW 1548

Episode 49: Maths Lit It Up

Sunday 16 August 2026 / 3rd Rabi al-Awwal 1448AH 14h00 - 15h00 (CAT)






 

Watch Level Up with Ziyaad, Nabihah, and Isa Plaatjes on Radio Islam International MW 1548

Episode 49: Maths Lit It Up

Sunday 16 August 2026 / 3rd Rabi al-Awwal 1448AH 14h00 - 15h00 (CAT)

 

Read the Transcript for Level Up with Ziyaad, Nabihah, and Isa Plaatjes on Radio Islam International MW 1548

Episode 49: Maths Lit It Up

Sunday 16 August 2026 / 3rd Rabi al-Awwal 1448AH 14h00 - 15h00 (CAT)



0:08
To dear listeners, it's just past 200 p.m. right here in South Africa and it's
0:14
our favorite day of the week, yad. It's [snorts] the third day of Rabiel A
0:22
1448 ah. Alhamdulillah. and it corresponds to Sunday the 16th of August
0:29
2026. I am Ziad Plachies and with me are my co-hosts Nabiha and Issa Plachis.
0:36
Welcome to Level Up where we listen, learn and grow inshallah with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's guidance and we
0:43
break down the week's news and talk about what really matters to young Muslims today. Our WhatsApp line is
0:50
open. The number is 072-7861548. You can call in on 0185472
1:00
or DM us on i love.com. That's Lov
1:07
Zoom M. We on Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Tik Tok threads as
1:14
well as upcrolled. So, alhamdulillah, we have reached a new
1:20
month. It's Rabiel A. Oh Allah, let this month be filled with baraka, I iman,
1:26
safety, and Islam. And let us be blessed with the ability to do that which makes you happy and which you are pleased
1:33
with. Amen. This week we're going to do a bit of a dive into education. Two things happened
1:41
this week which has caused debate on the internet. One which might seem
1:46
superficial but we will dive deeper into it is the logo or word mark change of
1:52
Instagram and the other was the scrapping of maths literacy
1:58
hasn't been scrapped but there have been talks about it being scrapped just uh to
2:04
clarify that because there has been a lot of confusion on the internet about it as well. Uh but we're going to look
2:10
at that maybe um I think let's start with the Instagram logo word mark and
2:16
inshallah after the break we can get into the maths literacy debacle.
2:22
So if you updated your Instagram on Thursday the 13th of August or any time until now you would have noticed that
2:29
the logo which appears at the top of the home screen which has been there since
2:34
2016 has now changed. So, has anybody seen it? Um, let us know. If you haven't
2:42
updated Instagram, uh, maybe try doing it now. Then what we about to discuss
2:48
will be a bit clearer, I think. Um, I don't think it's something that people actually look at uh, on a daily basis or
2:56
even notice. Some people might notice that it has changed. Uh, but if you have noticed, let us know what you think um,
3:04
about it. Do you like it? Don't you like it? Does it not make a difference in your life? But let's look at the facts.
3:11
Yes. So, let's look at the facts. Instagram updated its text logo word
3:21
mark this week because the previous design
3:26
was nearly a decade old and the company wanted a cleaner and more modern look.
3:36
Instagram head Adam Moseri
3:42
shared the new design on 13th of August
3:48
2026. So why it changed the text spelling out Instagram at the
3:56
top of the app feed now blends cursive and print lettering with smoother
4:05
curves. [clears throat] So what stayed the same if you asking?
4:13
So, the colorful pink and orange camera app icon on your phone's home screen did
4:22
not change. So, why did Instagram or rather Meta do
4:30
this? So, they wanted a fresh look.
4:36
The older script logo had been in use since 2016
4:42
and felt dated to the design team. They also wanted to blend styles meta.
4:51
Instagram's parent company wanted a forwardlooking
4:57
evol evolution that combines
5:03
classic cursive traits with sharper modern print styles. [snorts]
5:10
So, what was the public's reaction? So, users online had mixed responses. While
5:16
some like the modern update, others joke that the new letter R made the logo look
5:22
like it read Instag Zam.
5:27
Yes. Um, I actually also made that joke because it looked like a zed and not
5:34
like a R because I usually write an art like like a straight and then that uh
5:43
curve at the top like a bowl or something. Okay. So, could you read the old
5:49
Instagram logo? Uh, yeah. It was a bit bold. I remember it was Wasn't it like a bit bold or
5:56
something? It was more cursive. Yeah. So, but you could read it.
6:01
Yeah. Better than this one. Yeah. Oh, okay. I think it's just because you
6:07
were used to it. Um, so maybe that's why and I think people have well basically
6:14
grown up with that uh word mark of Instagram being like that. So even
6:19
though they not used to, which we're going to get into now, cursive, [snorts] um they, you know, like basically
6:29
knew what it was. It's like a b like a logo. Like if you see a logo on a car or
6:34
a phone or something, you're going to know that that's what it's what it is, even if you can't read it, isn't it?
6:41
Yeah. [snorts] Yeah. So anyway, um, one user said, "I mean, we're still waiting for
6:46
chronological orders and for Instagram to get rid of those weird little pesky sex bots, but font change will have to
6:53
do it for now." And I think that's so true. There's a lot that Instagram still needs to do.
7:00
Um, the news feed is, you know, something that that needs to
7:07
be sorted out, showing us a whole lot of stuff from people that we don't even follow. and um even the posts don't even
7:15
get shown to your followers unless you are boosting posts. Uh so there's a lot
7:20
of things and then of course like they said um those Instagram accounts that uh
7:26
we don't want to see come up on explore or in the feed or whatever it is and you
7:33
try and get rid of them but then 2 days later they're back there. Um, so among the news and mixed responses that
7:40
somehow shook the internet, there's a little theory brewing beneath the surface and it's rooted in Gen Z's
7:46
reading and writing abilities when it comes to cursive.
7:51
So the um, someone said the youth can't read cursive, so I approve of the slide dig. Um, another person said, "Is this
7:59
because cursive writing is now a lost recipe?" He said, "What are your thoughts about cursive writing?"
8:07
Um well obviously I
8:13
can read certain cursive things cuz
8:19
there's like the curse of I looks like a G
8:24
almost like a G kind of thing and then [snorts] um so then
8:31
Yeah. So so you understand it a bit a bit. Yeah. Can you write it?
8:36
Um, sort of, but there's lots of uh what
8:42
they call it like ocean curves and all those. [laughter and gasps] Okay. Okay. We won't get into a whole um
8:49
how to write cursors. Um but so um in
8:55
fact this theory hasn't exactly been birthed out of thin air after various studies into reading and writing
9:00
abilities across generations have cropped up over the years. Up until
9:05
2010, cursive writing was mandatory in many US schools before it was officially
9:11
removed from the required Common Core standards for K12 education. In 2022,
9:18
the Atlantic delved into it, further claiming in the future, cursive will have to be taught to scholars the way
9:24
Elizabethan secretary hand or paleography is today.
9:30
The conversation then poured over onto platforms like Reddit where people share their own experiences of learning or not
9:38
learning cursive at school. I can't read cursive, especially not oldtimey
9:43
genealogology cursive. I just asked someone else to help me. I don't see cursive in everyday life, nor do I see
9:50
anyone using it. My parents are both boomers and write in block print, for example.
9:56
One user wrote, I think uh boomers did love to write in block print for some
10:03
reason. I think it was because they were taught that. But we um
10:09
for some reason as millennials uh grew up learning a lot of cursive
10:16
and um you know we we carried on with it and you know like you would uh do your
10:23
signature in cursive as well and um yeah now it's been a bit watered down so
10:31
those that did do cursive have like this Instagram logo a mix of uh block print
10:37
and cursive or you have almost like block print but like it's like almost
10:45
itallic. Um it has a little bit of a curve at the end. So another user said, "I'm Gen X and
10:52
while I learned cursive, I still can't read most older documents written in a style of cursive that's foreign to me.
10:58
[snorts] Lamina lamenting the evolution of education is like whining that kids aren't taught to steer a carriage or
11:05
weave a wool anymore. Uh I don't know so much about that. Another user said, "I'm a millennial and
11:11
was never taught cursive, just the curvy print letters that are supposed to make cursive easier than string up block
11:18
print. It has created its challenges as an adult, though thankfully I figured out a signature myself with some kids
11:25
cursive books and picked up enough to read bits of clear cursive.
11:31
And it's not just uh Reddit users who have been debating the subject. Teens React also did a light-hearted video
11:37
asking Gen Z to read and write in cursive. Since it is no longer required
11:43
learning in all 50 states, it has become less and less important.
11:49
In South Africa, however, cursive is still taught in some primary schools. So, instruction depends heavily on
11:56
individual school policies rather than a strict nationwide mandate. So, Issa, you did learn cursive. Uh yes, I learned in
12:06
grade not grade one but like normal lettering grade one, grade two and grade
12:12
three I learned a bit of cursive there. Yeah. So they said the schools that teach cursive typically introduce a
12:18
slanted handwriting style in grade two or three building on the basic print letters learned in grade one. Okay. So
12:25
you did pass grade one, grade two, and grade three then if that's that's what you say. Um, so educational platforms
12:33
like the WCED e portal, the Western Cape Education Department still provide official
12:39
cursive practice booklets and teaching aids for education for educators. Sorry.
12:46
Discussions on platforms like Reddit show that experiences diff widely. Some
12:51
traditional primary schools strictly enforce cursive up to grade six while others play with play very little
12:58
emphasis on it. So you haven't since grade three you haven't really done cursive.
13:03
Um no I've just been writing normal
13:10
after that block writing. Okay. Many educators and experts consider cursive an araake skill
13:17
because modern communication relies heavily on typing computers and printed text. I think this is true um especially
13:26
with educators um you know as a concessions facilitator with us at After
13:32
Fighter Grind Academy um as a scribe in fact we have told we've been told not to
13:39
scribe in cursive um the rule came because they say the
13:45
students don't understand cursive because obviously they need to read to see if their answers are correct but At
13:53
the same time, I think there's a lot of educators who cannot read cursive. So,
13:59
um that's the main problem because you know they the educators need to obviously mark the paper and they can't
14:05
read what has been written. So even you know in the the scribing world it's been
14:11
taken away and I think uh as a scribe it's much easier to write in cursive
14:18
because you know it's quicker all the words are joined together and um you
14:25
know it's it's sad that it's come to a point where it's no longer used. Um but
14:31
what do you think? What do what do you think is it something that shouldn't be used that should should still be used?
14:40
Um I think that it should be still used
14:46
because uh for me I can read both. So
14:54
whether it's normal writing or so you so you don't mind. It's not that
15:00
you still want it to be used. is that you don't mind whether it is used because you've grown up knowing about
15:07
it. But I think the struggle is that a lot of uh kids today haven't grown up
15:13
learning cursive or learning how to read it. And that's the problem. And I think that's the theory behind why Instagrams
15:21
changed their logo. We don't know. It's just a theory. But uh we'd like to hear from our listeners. Um do you think
15:27
cursive should still be taught in schools? If you would like to join the conversation, our sublime is 072-7861548
15:37
or you can call in on 0185472 or you can even DM us on.com on social
15:45
media. That's iOS
15:56
inshallah. tutoring, mentoring, homeschool assistance, concessions, facilitation,
16:03
and more. Visit After Grant Academy, the dawn of
16:09
excellence
16:14
and welcome back to Level Up. If you just tuned in, we've been talking about
16:20
Instagram or Insta Zams new word mark
16:27
and how curse of writing has declined over the years. If you missed it, be
16:33
sure to check out the Radio Islam International SoundCloud during the week for the podcast as well as our
16:39
website.com for the video podcast. But right now we'll be discussing the
16:46
scrapping of math literacy in South African schools. If you would like to
16:52
join the conversation, our sublime is open. The number is 0727861548
16:59
or you can call in on 0185472 or you can even DM us on.com.
17:08
That's v e z a c o m. Okay. I think before we get into the
17:15
discussion, [clears throat] I think um we need to take a little step back. Uh
17:20
so when we were in school, there was standard grade and higher grade
17:27
mathematics, right? If if you remember um that then we had I think functional
17:35
grade was like a much lower grade and then we had um ad maths which was
17:43
additional mathematics if I'm not mistaken or advanced additional mathematics. So you had a standard grade
17:49
and higher grade which most people did. If you wanted to um do something
17:54
further, then you would do uh ADM maths. And then if you couldn't manage higher
18:00
grade or standard grade, then you would do something that was called functional grade. But that was up until I think
18:07
2008, if I'm not mistaken. [snorts] Um then they introduced
18:14
uh two things called pure mats and mats lit. So they got rid of higher grade and
18:20
standard grade. So higher grade and standard grade represent represented the old South African high school grading
18:26
system. Um whereas pure maths and maths are the two modern separate subject pathways used in schools today. Okay. So
18:34
let's take a look. The old system higher grade versus standard grade was pre208.
18:40
So before 2008, South African learners took the same core mathematics subject
18:45
but chose the level of diffic difficulty at which they wanted to be examined. So
18:52
higher grade maths is a much harder advanced level of mathematics. Passing this was traditionally required to gain
18:59
direct entrance into university science and engineering degree programs.
19:06
Standard grade maths or SGMAT. So high grade was HG and standard grade was SG.
19:11
You would have seen it on your national certificate. At the end of uh metric or grade 12 or standard 10 as it was then
19:18
[snorts] is a less demanding version of the same syllabus. It gave learners a full school
19:25
leaving pass but often excluded them from entering technical or scientific
19:30
university pathways. So this is very important. Higher grade and standard
19:35
grade maths is not the same as pure maths and maths literacy of today. Um
19:42
higher grade and standard grade maths was the same subject. It was just that
19:47
standard grade was a little bit say easier or higher grade was a little bit
19:53
harder. But it was the same syllabus. Everything that was there was taught the
19:59
same. there was just a few things that were either added or subtracted depending on on which way you you look
20:06
at it. I said added or subtracted because we're talking about maths. Um so
20:13
the modern system pure maths versus maths lit or maths literacy is post
20:19
2008. So today the education system replaced grade splits with two
20:25
completely different subjects starting in grade 10. So standard grade higher
20:31
grade same thing just the level was different.
20:36
Now maths lit and pure maths are two totally separate subjects.
20:42
in pure mathematics or cure core maths a highly abstract and theoretical subject
20:48
covering algebra trigonometry functions and calculus. It trains the brain in
20:53
critical analytical problem solving and a strict requirement for STEM fields
20:58
your science technology engineering and mathematics medicine accounting and IT
21:04
at universities. I feel like Issa wants to say something. Um,
21:10
no. It's just that I knew what STEM stands for. Okay.
21:15
Cuz it [laughter] stands for science, technology, engineering. Okay. So, you're going to take pure, you'll have to take pure mathematics if
21:22
you want to look at it a career in STEM. [snorts] Okay. And then mathematical
21:28
literacy or maths lit is a practical subject focused on realworld applications. It teaches everyday
21:34
financial skills like personal budgeting, calculating interest, understanding taxes and reading utility
21:42
bills. It does not provide entry into science, engineering or medical
21:47
university degrees. Okay. So that is the basis of it. Um if
21:55
you understand that that then everything else is going to be much clearer about what we're going to be discussing today.
22:01
So maths lit pure maths two different subjects higher grade standard grade
22:06
were the same subject. So former minister of education Ni Pando said she opposed the creation of mathematical
22:13
literacy because it incentivizes students to abandon pure mathematics.
22:20
She shared her views on South Africa's education system and mathematics literacy during an interview with the
22:25
African Renaissance podcast. Pandoor is a prominent South African ANC
22:30
politician who served as South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
22:36
from 2019 to 2024. She has held high ranking cabinet portfolios over a 30-year parliamentary
22:44
career including Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Training. She also serves as the
22:50
chancellor of Nelson Mandela University and is the chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
22:56
Pando is therefore an influential VO voice in the South African education
23:01
sector and in the African National Congress. She said that during her tenure as education minister the quality
23:07
of the examination papers was excellent. That means those who passed metric were
23:13
topnotch. Okay, not uh tooting our own horn but
23:18
that was when we we were um in in metric. [snorts]
23:23
uh this is what we should aim to achieve. However, it makes little sense to have a large number of students
23:29
failing so we should have explored other options. She said
23:35
despite the need to raise the pass rate, Pando did not like or support mathematical literacy because she foraw
23:42
it would be a disaster. Nevertheless, I allowed departmental
23:47
officials to persuade me what I suspected would happen did occur. She said, she explained that a large number
23:54
of students opted out of pure mathematics in favor of mathematical literacy.
24:00
This has significantly reduced our overall numbers in core mathematics over time. We have begun to recover, she
24:06
said. Pando believes that this is an issue we must address. There are some
24:12
students who may not pursue pure mathematics, she said. However, they could pass a mathematics A or
24:18
mathematics B option. Whatever you might call it, we need to rethink our approach. So, basically, she's saying
24:24
that um we could introduce, you know, the higher grade standard grade options.
24:30
Again, mathematical literacy is important, but not as a primary track. It should be something where all
24:37
children gain basic numerical competence such as calculating change.
24:43
Pando's view aligns with that of Dr. Mameti Peng [snorts]
24:48
former professor of mathematics education who said that it should be done away with in schools.
24:56
Ping said that the mathematical literacy was well-intentioned but is not serving the purpose for which it was designed.
25:02
South Africa previously had higher grade and standard grade mathematics. This distinction has fallen away. Under the
25:09
new system, there are mathematics core and mathematical literacy. Students have to pick between the two. She said weaker
25:16
students used to move from higher grade to standard grade mathematics. They are now pushed to much easier mathematical
25:24
literacy. I think mathematical literacy should be done away with, she said, adding that it does not help students to
25:30
enter courses in university. Even if you if you achieve a distinction in maths
25:37
lit students do not get any points for that in university scoring system. She
25:42
explained she explained that schools incentivize learners to move from mathematics to mathematical literacy
25:48
because it increases the school's average performance. The school's average looks good but the
25:55
department of basic education does not look at why the performance is good. She said even when they count the number of
26:03
distinctions for a school, they do not exclude mathematical literacy. She argued that if mathematical literacy had
26:11
never been introduced, it would not have created a problem of learners moving away from mathematics. Instead of moving
26:18
children away from mathematics when they struggle with it, schools should encourage them to spend more time on the
26:24
subject to improve. She advocated for changing the incentive structures for schools to reward them for achieving
26:31
good mathematics results. So I think the most important thing is
26:37
that um you know we've moved away from the standard grade and higher grade
26:44
which was the same syllabus to now um
26:49
pure maths or core maths and maths literacy. And there's been a drive like
26:57
uh she said uh well that's been said to move over more to math literacy and one
27:05
of the problems is they're saying that there's not enough resources for maths
27:10
literacy meaning there's not enough educators to teach maths literacy. So it's easier for the schools to go onto
27:18
maths literacy [snorts] um than to keep pure maths. So they they actually trying instead of trying to
27:24
scrap maths literacy, they're trying to scrap pure maths which is going to create a big problem which Dr. Nali
27:30
Pando said and it has which we'll get into. There's a a real world example
27:36
that we've experienced this week. Um but also
27:41
um the fact that uh you know that we have this uh uh maths literacy where
27:49
they're using the distinctions at the schools. So, it's a easier subject, but
27:54
because you know it's easier, there's people that are don't want to do pure maths, they [snorts] do math literacy,
28:01
they get a distinction, and then the school is boasting that they've got a good average. Um, whereas the, you know,
28:10
math literacy is actually not, it's not really a math subject in essence. That's
28:17
that's basically what the ed I'm not a educator. I'm just talking from a
28:23
tutoring experience, right? And I've looked at grade 12 and as a scribe as concessions facilitator, I've seen um
28:31
grade 12 maths literacy papers, right? I've scribed for them. I've tutored uh uh
28:37
students on them at the afterbach grind academy and we have seen that I
28:45
personally think that the level of it is maybe let's I'm not even like joking maybe
28:52
grade seven like that's like the level of um grade 12 maths literacy right as I
29:00
said I'm not an educator don't take my word for it um it's two totally different subjects
29:06
pure maths and and maths literacy. But I think the problem lies and I've seen
29:12
this a lot is that because there is this easier option, kids are always looking
29:20
for an easier way out. That's true. So now, not only are they choosing the
29:26
easier option, they just barely passing the easier option.
29:32
I've seen kids barely passing, kids failing, and that's a real problem
29:39
because we're creating this society and we've creating the future of our leaders
29:48
in in the society in South Africa because math literacy is not it's not um
29:54
recognized anywhere else in the world. Nobody else has the subject. Right. Okay. But what would you say for people
30:01
who um probably genuinely don't do well in maths? I I'm I'm I'm I'm just saying
30:08
you know like not basic maths that you should need in the real world like as a say cashier [laughter]
30:15
which will be our story coming up but you know like
30:20
who genuinely can't go beyond you know calculations I mean can do calculations but can't do
30:27
any more than that in terms of maths what would you say you know this was actually giving them that opportunity to
30:33
say that they have done maths But you see this is when when we started the conversation I said when we were at
30:41
school we had higher grade we had standard grade and if you couldn't manage those two you had functional
30:46
grade right which was like basic basic right
30:52
um which was also probably like a primary school level maths when when you
30:58
were in grade 12. So things that you would need when you're out there in the world, but not like completely um
31:03
important things like you know fractions and [laughter] um yeah. Well, you see the thing is geometric.
31:09
They're saying that pure maths is basically um it's it's too high a grade. You only
31:16
need it if you if you need to get into university to you know like do STEM subjects like uh STEM careers like we
31:24
said or medicine or you know like it's too high a grade. So maths literacy was
31:29
the perfect option. But Dr. Nady Panda is saying why can't there still be like
31:35
a maths A and a maths B. So have the pure maths right and have like a higher grade and a
31:42
standard grade level. It doesn't have to be two extremes
31:47
because there is there's no in between the maths lit and the pure maths.
31:54
Mhm. And I think that's that's what's needed because like you're saying, you might not be good at pure maths, but I I
32:02
think it's not that people are not good at it. It's that
32:09
um there's not enough uh educators, right? It comes from the schools
32:16
driving or assisting the students. It's the same thing like when we spoke about Africans, you know, kids say they can't speak
32:22
Africans, but Africans is not a difficult language if it's taught in the correct way. And the same way with with
32:29
maths. If it's taught in the correct way, there shouldn't be a problem for children and I mean, we went through it.
32:37
People if they didn't pass higher grade, they at least pass standard grade. Mhm.
32:42
You didn't have a huge failure of of standard grade maths. So how is it that people are failing maths literacy which
32:49
is relatively lower than what standard grade was? Okay. So I actually want to know
32:56
parents, teachers, learners, if you're listening, we want to hear your thoughts on this. Did math literacy help you ne
33:03
navigate life or did you feel like it closed doors for your tertiary education? Let us know. You know, it's
33:09
it's interesting to know from those who went through it who who who did math literacy and see how um it you know like
33:18
maybe uh learners who were just in metric last year is it or in two years
33:23
ago did it help you this year did it help you uh last year you know what I mean
33:29
let us know from from that yeah I I think um you know we have to
33:34
look at real world examples and and we've experienced it just this week. Yes. So, we were at a store, right? And just
33:42
to paint a picture. So, we're at the store and they said if you buy for a
33:47
certain amount, you get a certain discount. So, let's let's say for example, if you buy for 200 rand, you
33:54
get a 30% discount, right? And we made sure that we bought for the required
33:59
amount so that we could get the discount. Yes. and we went to the till and the point of
34:06
sale system was obviously not set up for that particular discount for whatever reason. That's a that's a whole separate
34:13
issue. Yes. Right. Um and then we made the uh cashier aware
34:20
that the you know the discount did not kick in. Yes. So she called a manager and the
34:27
manager came in and we tried to explain to the manager and this process took about let's say 15 or 20 minutes and I
34:34
might be wrong it might have even been longer. We not only had to explain the problem
34:41
we had to explain to the manager how to calculate the discount. So let's
34:46
30% discount. Yeah. So let's let's let's say the amount was 210 rand and it was a 30%
34:52
discount. So the manager says to us, so okay, so firstly, the point of sales system didn't allow for just the manager
35:01
to input the 30% discount. He had to input the amount, the discounted amount
35:08
manually. So he couldn't just say, you know, like take off 30%.
35:13
Which is another issue again for the point of sale for the point of sale system. Um so
35:21
he had to work it out manually and then put in the amount the discounted amount.
35:27
So again we saying the amount was 210 rand. The manager then says to us um
35:34
okay so the discount is 25 rand. So we like already confused because if you
35:41
calculate and you can go now and calculate on your calculator or if you can do it in your brain already 10%
35:46
discount would be 21 rand. So how would 25 rand be a 30% discount and we were
35:53
trying to explain to him and it just wasn't. And now this is the manager of
35:58
the store right so this is not just um the cashier the cashier. So this is a senior person
36:04
in the store who should have or we would have liked to have not just maths
36:11
literacy, you know. Exactly. And now we don't know. we we can't judge cuz we can't say if that person did cuz
36:18
we obviously didn't ask him did you study math literacy or did you do pure maths but I mean just from that incident
36:26
it took us a while for us to explain to him that the 30% discount was more than
36:33
25 rand and you know for him to actually get it and we actually had to show him
36:38
on our phone on the calculator to show him this is what it is minus 30% %
36:44
that's the total amount that should be the uh deduction. But surely anyone can say because you
36:52
know when you're busy giving a tip you know most of us go to restaurants and stuff and you know a 10% tip and and to
36:59
say 210 like you said 210 10% tip is already 21 rand.
37:05
Yeah. So now if you're going to say 10% plus 10% plus 10% which gives you 30%,
37:12
21 rand plus 21 rand plus 21 rand that definitely doesn't give you 25 rand
37:17
anyone can figure that out. But you see you talking about receiving
37:23
money here they are discounting you. So they already
37:28
when people are not interested in how much discount they need to give you but when they need to receive money they can
37:35
work it out quickly and that's exactly what I'm trying what what we what myself
37:40
and Dr. and a lady pando are trying to say is that [laughter]
37:46
there is that um ability to learn pure
37:52
maths you know to to do it and to do those calculations but because the brain
37:59
has been trained on a not a lesser than but you know like an like they said like
38:05
an easier subject students have now become
38:10
um complacent and they they've said oh well the passing rate is whatever it is
38:16
30%. Um so as long as we get that it's fine
38:21
and we've seen that even as concessions facilitators we scribe for a child and the the the
38:30
um uh mark allocation is say five marks and
38:36
the child you can see that the child has only uh written down something for one mark or two marks and you'll say to them
38:45
you know the question for five marks, you know, and they'll literally tell you
38:50
that that's enough for me to pass. Yes. There's quite a few kids that we
38:56
know that um actually like over the years, I'm not saying now, recently, over the years, they tend to actually
39:03
calculate how much they can do so that they can just pass. But there's a there. They
39:11
have the drive to calculate how much they need to do to pass,
39:17
but they don't have the drive to do the actual work. And that's and I think
39:22
that's that's that's another topic, the drive and a motivation to do this. [laughter] No, but that's that's that's where it is
39:29
is that the the school systems are not assisting the kids to reach that ability
39:36
because as far as they concerned and we've seen it, educators come in a lot of them and we're not pointing fingers
39:44
at educators. We're not saying anything. They come in, they read from a textbook
39:49
and they're out and that's it. And um obviously us as tutors and concessions
39:56
facilitators, we don't mind because then we come in and we fill that gap. But there isn't um you know that that open
40:06
door policy anymore where that you know you could go to the teachers afterwards and they would assist you and um even
40:13
during the class you know it's just this is what what we learning for today and
40:19
that's it. I believe there are you know there are still some educators and some in some schools and I know that for a
40:26
fact you know in some of the recent schools that I've been in there are that those educators who still allow and I I
40:33
see the students coming in they want to know where they've you know g fallen short and then the educator says okay
40:40
today after class or tomorrow uh today after school tomorrow after school and so on. So they are a few. Yes.
40:46
No, they are they are still and and um we congratulate them and we recognize
40:52
them and you know we you know we we want we we want more of them. That's that's
40:58
what we're saying because that's where it starts. And if the the the
41:04
educators are willing to assist and willing to you know go above and beyond
41:10
to ensure that the you can't say that the children don't want to learn and the
41:15
children are not interested because you've chosen that profession and you
41:22
know you want to assist the the the children and yes the children are going to be difficult and they they are they
41:28
you know they want to do the bare minimum Why then introduce a subject
41:34
that allows them to do even less than the bare minimum? Okay, now I get you [laughter]
41:43
because we know that every child has the potential. So you don't want to um
41:48
squander that potential. And with that, let's just say that education is the
41:54
ultimate equal equalizer in society and mathematics is the language of the
42:00
future global economy. It is and if we leave our children behind in numerousy, we leave them behind in the
42:06
job market of tomorrow and that is relevant in that um incident that we
42:12
experienced this week. Yes. Okay. But once again, if you'd like to
42:17
join the conversation during the week, you can do so on our social media pages @ i love.com. That's i o v e z a c o m.
42:28
We are on Instagram, Facebook, x, LinkedIn, YouTube, Tik Tok, threads, and
42:33
upscrolled. And you are welcome to read the articles on our website as well as
42:38
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42:45
and if you've missed any of the other Level Up episodes or you would like to just go back and listen to it, you are
42:52
welcome to do so on the Radio Islam International SoundCloud.
42:58
To our dear listeners for joining us on this lovely Sunday afternoon, please
43:03
join us every Sunday right here on Radio Islam International from 2 to 3:00 p.m.
43:09
Inshallah. Amen. from myself Nabiha, from Isa and from Zad. Enjoy your Sunday
43:16
and we wish you a wonderful week ahead. Inshallah.
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