Making Maths Make Sense with OLICO Maths Education

Across South Africa, countless learners struggle with mathematics, not because they lack potential but because of a lack of access to meaningful maths education. OLICO Maths Education is rethinking how maths is taught and learned, especially in under-resourced communities.

Andrew Barrett and Colin Beck founded OLICO in 2008, and Dr Lynn Bowie later joined the organisation. The organisation began as a small, after-school tutoring initiative in Diepsloot, supporting 22 learners. Today, it has grown into a nationwide programme, a testament to its impact, reaching over 5,000 learners in-person each week and 20,000 more indirectly through partner organisations using OLICO’s resources and training.

The Problem: Learners Are Falling Behind in Maths, And It’s a Systemic Issue

The statistics are sobering:

• According to research by Kotze & Spaull (2015), only 16% of Grade 3 learners perform at grade level.
  
  
• Data from the 2019 TIMSS shows that 50% of Grade 5 learners don’t meet the lowest international benchmark.
  
  
• In the 2014 Annual National Assessment, Grade 9 learners scored an average of 11% in maths.
  
  
• By matric, only 20–30% of learners in Quintile 1–3 schools choose to take pure mathematics, according to the Department of Basic Education (2024).
  
  

These numbers reflect a system where math often feels like a disconnected set of rules and shortcuts rather than a coherent, logical subject. Without a solid conceptual foundation, learners quickly lose confidence and fall even further behind.

The Solution: A Tutor in Every Learner’s Pocket

To address the scale of the maths crisis in South Africa, OLICO developed an accessible EdTech solution: the WhatsApp Maths Hotline. Designed to meet learners where they are (on their phones), the hotline offers students free, on-demand maths support across the country. Learners can message the hotline via WhatsApp, and OLICO responds with tailored support to guide them through the problem. It’s like having a tutor in your pocket, accessible anytime, anywhere.

What began as a stopgap during COVID-19 lockdowns quickly revealed its potential for long-term impact. In 2024 alone, more than 26,000 learners accessed the hotline, a clear sign of its potential to bridge the gap in maths education, many of whom would otherwise have had no access to extra maths help.

By combining low-data technology with OLICO’s strong pedagogical foundation, the WhatsApp Maths Hotline is removing barriers to quality maths education and scaling personalised learning support to where it’s needed most.

Watch the video below to learn more about OLICO Maths Education’s work.

🌐 Visit OLICO Maths Education’s website.

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OLICO Maths Education is a 2025 Fellow in the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship.