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Gauteng Education MEC Ms Barbara Creecy encouraged learners to choose pure maths as a subject since the department has support programmes to help them do well.

“We are trying to encourage more learners to take up pure maths when they choose subjects for grade 10. Many learners don't choose pure maths because they are afraid they will fail.

“Tell your younger brothers and sisters about the camps and that they can choose pure maths because we have camps such as these ones to help them where they struggle. Encourage them and tell them that they don't have to be afraid,” MEC Creecy told grade 10 and 11 learners at Eqinisweni Secondary School attending the holiday programme this morning.

MEC Creecy this morning inspected learner attendance of the School Improvement Programme (SSIP) at Eqinisweni in Ivory Park, Midrand. The site is aimed at grade 10 and 11 learners and an average of 650 learners attended each day.

Learners attend for three hours of each day and lessons are offered in pure Maths, Physical Science and Accountancy.

Eqinisweni accommodates about 700 grade 10 and 11 learners from five secondary schools that include Eqinisweni, Tsosoloso, Ponelong Oracle, Umqhela and Kaalfontein. These schools obtained a 2011 matric pass rates of 79%, 94%, 67% and 78% respectively. Kaalfontein will be writing matric for the first time this year.

Jabulani Kunene, the principal of Eqinisweni said he found that more girls chose the science stream and that partly explained why there were more girls at the camps than boys. Boys tended to choose the general stream. MEC Creecy encouraged learners present to motivate boy learners to attend.

Many grade 10 learners said attending these classes during the holidays was helping them. They liked the quality of tuition they received from the teachers at these classes.

The SSIP holiday programme started on Monday and is taking place throughout the province. Its aim is to close knowledge gaps from previous grades and prepare learners for their matric year.

Learners said they would be writing their matric examinations in 2014, the last year of the MEC's term of office. Learners promised to give her a good send-off by passing matric well.