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Dr Petro Erasmus #WomeninScience

Welcome our PEN Play's blog! We are celebrating #WomeninScience on February 11 with our Creator & Founder




Dr Petro Erasmus is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the North West University (Mafikeng Campus). Her main research interests are neuro-developmental disorders (Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD), maths achievement, Resilience and Emotional intelligence and career guidance. She has a private practice (Child and Family Guidance and Development Centre) in Mafikeng. The Centre offers Individual- Family and Couples- Adolescent and Children's'- counselling and therapies; Psychological Assessments; Workshops; Remedial and Extra lessons.





Dr Petro Erasmus' personal story of a young girl interested in STEM

It might help to break up your introduction into 2 or 3 main points, so it’s easy for your readers to follow. Each paragraph or two should focus on one point.

Everyone has a story …

Everyone has a maths story ….

When I was a little girl, I was the shortest in the class, but numbers and maths just makes so much sense and I love doing maths all the time, but then a teacher in Grade 7 told my mom in front of me that not all girls can do maths.

Then the journey becomes a little bit more complicated to pursue STEM career, or to keep on dreaming and working hard.

I had to change schools in my Grade 12 year and had to master maths in another language other than my mother tongue. I then nearly missed the opportunity to go to university because of a lack of career guidance and ignorant teachers that were guiding me at the time. I then realised, I had to do my own research before I believe and were told which would be the best way for me moving forward.


I eventually, got into university and then I realised I had to do an extra degree to reach my goal to become a psychologist. I also applied three times before I landed my dream job to become a researcher. I am so excited to be in the research field and to cross paths with a lot of types of people, people I learn from, get inspired from, and dream and work hard with.



In the research field, I applied three times to get seed-funding to develop my innovation that can change the lives of so many other little girls that love numbers, that can become the next Scientist, Engineer, Mathematician, Innovator and all the careers in STEM.


Poor maths achievement is a global problem and maths is a powerful gatekeeper – the door to coursework (qualifications) in science, medicine, technology and engineering.


Research has indicated that at American Middle school two thirds of learners will fall behind grade level in their maths classes. In South Africa 77% of learners take Maths literacy which does not give entry to any course in Engineering, Technology or Science at post-matric level. 


  • The results of the 2014 ANA’s indicate that only 65% of Grade 3 learners achieved 50% and more in mathematics.

  • Only thirty five percent (35%) of Grade 6 learners achieved 50%.

  • For the Grade 9 learners it is a shocking 3%.

Dr Erasmus's research interest on predictors of maths achievement in the South African context started in 2000 with her Masters studies to design a remedial programme in Maths for Setswana speaking / second language learners. She has 30 years’ experience in teaching remedial maths for learners from pre-school up to Grade 11. Her PhD studies focused on study orientation in maths and emotional intelligence as predictors of maths achievement. The literature review indicated that metacognition is one of the most important concepts in contemporary research of critical thinking. The relationship between the different fields of study orientation (maths anxiety, attitude, problem-solving skills, study milieu etc.) is confirmed by various studies. Study orientation is one of the key predictors of maths achievement. The role of the family and school in poor maths achievement is also stressed. Research finding also focuses on the role of resilience in maths achievement. The relationship between mathematics anxiety, memory capabilities and lowered academic performance has been validated in my PhD studies and is also the focus of recent books and various articles on this topic. Current research stresses that low achieving primary school learners that are exposed to systematic training in problem solving, decision making, and self-monitoring techniques improves their maths achievement significantly.



Let's Really Play Maths - Whartels


Maths Whartels is a new creative and innovative concept for a computer game designed for primary school learners aimed at improving children’s math achievement by focusing on cognitive aspects (math concepts, metacognition and information processing) and psychological facets (maths anxiety, maths resilience, etc).


By using the newest technology this program aims to facilitate self-directed learning by changing the learners mathematical mindset / thinking by including principles used in play therapy to optimize learning and understanding such as puppets / characters, board games and story-telling and thus including both LINEAR and THEME methods to improve math skills.


Maths Whartels is currently played at our Let's Really Play Maths Centres across South Africa.

To find a centre near you, start your own centre or to contact PEN Play please send an email to info@lrpm.co.za

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