Who we are
MathIT designs and shares techno-blended models and curated digital resources that make CAPS & NCV mathematics more accessible for classroom teaching and for self-directed learning. The work is intentionally practical: flexible online & offline, widely usable materials that teachers and learners can employ in ordinary school conditions, including settings where connectivity and specialist support are limited.
The organisation also promotes STEAM education through a techno-mathematical approach: using mathematics with interactive applets as the bridge across science, technology, engineering and the arts applicatons, so that teachers and learners can strengthen critical thinking, trans-disciplinary practice and creative problem-solving.
Founder
Professor Werner Olivier formalised MathIT after retiring as Founder Director of the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) at Nelson Mandela University in 2025. He is a retired Professor of Mathematics at NMU, with more than four decades of experience as a mathematics educator and as a specialist in techno-pedagogical mathematics education.
Over a long academic and engagement career Prof Olivier led research and development of 21st-century STEM/STEAM models for secondary education, built accredited teacher professional-development programmes, and designed offline and mobile-friendly resources for under-served schools in the Eastern Cape and beyond. His work has included national awards for incubator-school models, extensive GeoGebra-based curriculum support, and collaborations in South Africa, Europe and the Nordic countries.
What we offer
MathIT develops innovative and accessible online & offline vehicles for engaging mathematics teaching and learning, including:
- Offline and online cross-platform HTML maths resource hubs with flexible, clear navigation to topic lessons, practice exercises and solutions, self-assessments, topic applets and practice materials, and pre-curated AI-tutor support on demand.
- Customised interactive mathematics applets and exercise sets, aligned to the CAPS curriculum for the Senior Phase and FET.
- STEAMath workshops that use visualisation and interactive digital tools to develop critical thinking and problem-solving with teachers or learners.
- Techno-blended classroom models that combine dialogic teaching, visualisation and self-directed practice — designed to work in resource-constrained as well as well-equipped settings.
- Commissioned Afrikaans versions of any of the above — hubs, applet resources, workshops and classroom models prepared to order for Afrikaans-medium schools and colleges.
Education Purpose
The aim is straightforward: better conceptual understanding and appreciation of school/college mathematics, stronger teacher practice, and a wider, fairer pipeline from secondary and college mathematics into higher education and the workplace. MathIT treats high-quality mathematics education as a public good — a lever for opportunity, equity and national capability in support of STEM & Commerce-related careers.