Andhika Mahabeer honoured for inspiring primary-school Maths pupils - IOL
Edgemead Primary School teacher, Andhika Mahabeer.
FOR 49-year-old Edgemead Primary School teacher, Andhika Mahabeer, Mathematics is about far more than numbers, formulas and getting the right answer.
It is about curiosity, confidence, problem-solving and helping children believe they are capable.
That philosophy has earned the Grade 4 Mathematics teacher, Grade Head and Head of Mathematics at the Cape Town school a provincial award in the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (GET) category at the National Teaching Awards.
Mahabeer's career began in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal more than 27 years ago.
"I think teaching chose me as much as I chose teaching. My dad was a teacher and retired as a principal, so I have always been exposed to the ‘glorified marking and writing on the chalkboard’, but ultimately, I believe that teaching is a calling.
"I enjoy working with children and seeing that moment when something suddenly makes sense to them. Mathematics, in particular, has always fascinated me because it is not just about getting an answer. It is about thinking, reasoning, finding patterns and solving problems. I love that there can sometimes be more than one way to arrive at an answer.”
While the award was met with a mixture of disbelief, excitement and gratitude, Mahabeer said the real reward was taking pupils who said they could not do maths and helping them get to a point when they actually could.
"That transformation is what keeps me passionate about Mathematics. My journey as a maths teacher is driven by a belief that every pupil can succeed in Mathematics given the right support, challenge, and inspiration."
She believes fear often begins when pupils are made to feel that they are either “good at maths” or “not good at maths”.
"There is also a fear of making mistakes. Pupils may know the answer but be too afraid to put up their hands because they don't want to be wrong. That is why I place a huge emphasis on creating a classroom where pupils feel safe to make mistakes, ask questions and try different strategies."
Mahabeer's response has been to create a classroom where mistakes are viewed as part of learning rather than something to be ashamed of.
“I tell my pupils, ‘Your mistake is not something to be embarrassed about. It is an opportunity for us to see how you were thinking.’”
Her approach extends beyond her own classroom.
One of the moments that had a lasting impact on her teaching career was realising that while considerable emphasis was placed on remedial support for struggling pupils, little was being done to challenge those who were excelling.
She responded by establishing a Maths Club as an extension programme and began entering pupils into Mathematics competitions, with many achieving outstanding results and placings over the years.
“Sometimes the most important thing a teacher can give a child is not an answer, but the belief that they are capable of finding the answer themselves.”
Teachers, she says, have to find creative ways of making Mathematics accessible and meaningful, regardless of the circumstances.
She believes the education system also needs to move away from teaching pupils procedures simply to memorise them.
“We need to develop thinking, reasoning, problem-solving and mathematical confidence.”
For pupils struggling with the subject, her advice is equally straightforward: Do not give up simply because something is not understood immediately.
“Mathematics takes practice. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't compare yourself to the person sitting next to you.”
Mahabeer walked away from the awards ceremony with a reminder of the responsibility she had as a teacher.
"Teaching is not always easy. There are long hours, challenges, paperwork and many demands on teachers. But then you have that moment when a child's face lights up because they have finally understood something, or a pupil who once lacked confidence suddenly puts up their hand and says, “I know the answer!” That makes it worth it.”
