Pandor said the current enrolment levels were a major cause for concern and added that the education department's other priority was to improve the pass rates in mathematics and science.
She was speaking this week at the launch of a research report by the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) in Johannesburg.
The research report entitled from laggard to world class: reforming maths and science education in South Africa's schools was compiled after three years of case studies, analysis, workshops and discussions with experts, learners and educators on the status of maths and science in the country.
"We are striving towards achieving these goals more enrolment, improved teaching methods and higher pass rates because the report has confirmed that mathematics is easy, but teaching it is hard," she explained.
Pandor added that government had launched the Dinaledi initiative in 2001 that initially enlisted 102 schools countrywide as model centres for effective learning and teaching of mathematics.
The Dinaledi project also aims to increase access to mathematics, science and technology and promote and improve these subjects in under privileged communities.
The number of Dinaledi has since been increased to 114 and the minister said the department would build on the successes of these schools.
"The schools are not a stand-alone project; they are embedded in the change agenda of education and they are supported by other initiatives such as a more intensive use of information and communication technologies in education," she said.
"We are currently reviewing Dinaledi's progress and we are keen to learn from your research and experience.”
She urged teachers, public and private sector and other organisations to engage critically with the initiatives that the research report would create. - BuaNews.
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