In a year marked by exceptional achievements, Khayelitsha’s Nolungile Primary School has once again proved that dedication and excellence are at the heart of their educational mission. Guided by the motto “Khanya ukhanyise” – “Shine and be the light” – the school has proudly clinched a significant milestone in 2024: triumphing over 225 other schools to win the Standard Bank Matific Maths Olympiad for the third consecutive year. Matific has a strong presence in more than 20 countries worldwide and is a key OUP partner in South Africa and Australia.
Nolungile Primary School’s Grades 4–7 learners were victorious in this year’s Standard Bank Matific Maths Olympiad, securing a prize of R15,000 and learning resources for the school. The Olympiad, organised in partnership with Oxford University Press South Africa (OUPSA), is an annual online maths competition designed to ignite a love for mathematics in children aged 4–12.
The school’s learners excelled by earning stars for their performances in Matific’s game-based maths activities, tailored to align with South Africa’s CAPS curriculum. Over 225 schools across South Africa and neighbouring countries participated this year.
Principal Vuyiswa Somagaca commended her learners and educators for their dedication, saying, “Winning the Standard Bank Matific Maths Olympiad for the third year in a row is a testament to the hard work and passion of our teachers and learners. This prize will go a long way in providing much-needed resources for our school, and we are truly grateful for the support from Matific, and Oxford University Press South Africa.”
“Khayelitsha faces significant challenges, but we believe in the resilience and potential of our community’s children. At Nolungile, and in surrounding schools, we aim to inspire our learners to strive for excellence. With hard work and perseverance, they can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness, no matter their circumstances,” adds Somagaca.
The Olympiad is a cornerstone of the partnership between OUPSA and Matific, which was announced earlier this year. Karen Simpson, Managing Director of OUPSA, highlighted the partnership’s vision: “Through our collaboration with Matific, we are able to offer a powerful hybrid learning solution that develops conceptual understanding and ensures seamless continuity from school to home. This victory by Nolungile Primary exemplifies how tailored, engaging tools can drive academic success.”
In another remarkable achievement, Nolungile Primary School was selected as a beneficiary of the 2024 AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign. Outshining over 7,000 nominations, the school is among 500 beneficiaries chosen to receive a mobile trolley library valued at R65,000.
Each trolley is stocked with 500 language books aligned with the CAPS curriculum. This year’s campaign represents the most extensive effort yet, with 250,000 books being distributed, surpassing the 130,000 donated in 2023.
The AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, also in partnership with OUPSA, is in part a response to the stark findings of the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), which revealed that 81% of South African children could not read for comprehension. The initiative aims to support a culture of reading and provide learners with access to quality educational materials.
“Being chosen as a beneficiary of the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign is an incredible honour for our school,” says Somagaca. “This donation will be a game-changer for our learners, helping them develop critical literacy skills that will open doors to their future.”
To find out more about Matific’s offering for schools and parents, visit https://www.matific.com/za/en-za/home/.
Listen to Ms Somagaca’s interview with Cape Talk’s Pippa Hudson: https://omny.fm/shows/afternoons-with-pippa-hudson/khayelitsha-school-again-wins-maths-olympiad



