The aim of this proposed research study is to explore the value of the educational programmes introduced into five after care centres in Grahamstown. Research data will be gathered from a range of stakeholders involved in these centres and programmes. The after care centres included in this study are participating in the Vestas Empowerment Trust programme. 

The proposed study is a response to the urgent need to find ways to address the critical underperformance of mathematical skills within the South African context.  The aim is to explore the value of the introduction of educational programmes into five after care centres for children from marginalised communities within an out-of-school time context.

The research will focus in on macro-, meso-, and micro- aspects of after care programmes offering numeracy interventions.

Research questions:

1. In what way do the five after care centres policies and supporting documentation mirror or depart from national policies and practices for setting up and running after care centres? (meso analysis in relation to macro context analysis)
2. What are stakeholder perceptions and experiences of the mathematics education programmes introduced into selected after care centres for marginalised communities? (meso level)
3. In what ways does the implementation of an after care mathematics club programme appear to influence participating Intermediate Phase learners’ numeracy capital (micro level)?