Bala Wande Roadshows (WCED x Funda Wande)

Background and Rationale

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED), in partnership with Funda Wande, has launched Bala Wande, a numeracy intervention aimed at strengthening Mathematics teaching and learning in the Foundation Phase. Building on the success of early-grade reading programmes, this initiative represents a deliberate step towards improving learning outcomes across both literacy and numeracy.

The pilot phase has already reached 225 Grade 1 teachers across 70 schools, with a phased provincial rollout planned to reach approximately 10,000 teachers over the next three years across three languages.

The Bala Wande programme supports teachers through a combination of structured training and high-quality resources, including teacher guides, learner books and Maths resource kits. These tools are designed to strengthen classroom practice and support learners in developing a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

Purpose and Objectives of the Roadshows

The Bala Wande Roadshows form part of this broader implementation strategy, creating a platform to engage principals and Head of Departments (HODs), strengthen understanding of the programme and build a shared vision for quality numeracy instruction in the Foundation Phase.

Beyond information-sharing, the roadshows aim to reinforce alignment between schools’ leadership, ensuring a more coherent and supported approach to numeracy teaching across the province.

The Bala Wande Roadshows aim to strengthen the principals and district officials’ understanding of the numeracy intervention and its practical application in the classroom, while also showcasing the partnership between WCED and Funda Wande.

The sessions provide clarity on programme rollout, expectations and available support, while creating space for principals and Department Heads (DHs’) engagement, reflection and shared learning. At a broader level, the roadshows seek to reinforce the importance of building strong foundations in Mathematics in the early grades.

More specifically, the roadshows aim to:

Equip principals and DOHs with a clear understanding of the Bala Wande approach to teaching MathematicsHighlight the role of structured materials and resources in improving learning outcomesRemind the SMTs about the department’s mathematics strategy. SMTs ensure consistent monitoring in the classroom.

Target Audience

The roadshows are designed to engage a range of key stakeholders within the education system, including:

Principals and Head of Departments

Expected Outcomes

Through these engagements, the Bala Wande Roadshows aim to achieve:

Improved principals and HODs awareness and understanding of the Bala Wande programmeIncreased confidence in implementing numeracy strategies in the classroomStronger alignment between WCED and Funda Wande messaging and support

Conclusion

The Bala Wande Roadshows represent an important step in supporting the rollout of the numeracy intervention, not only by introducing the programme but by building a shared understanding of what quality Mathematics teaching looks like in the Foundation Phase.

By bringing together principals, school leaders and system officials, the roadshows aim to lay the foundation for consistent, supported and sustainable improvements in numeracy teaching and learning across the province.

For more context on the Bala Wande pilot, please visit: WCED Bala Wande Pilot

Media Enquiries

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Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Funda Wande - https://www.fundawande.org

About Funda Wande

Funda Wande is a South African non-profit organisation dedicated to improving early reading and mathematics outcomes in Foundation Phase classrooms. Working across the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and the Western Cape, Funda Wande develops bilingual, mother-tongue-aligned learning and teaching support materials — including the Bala Wande literacy programme — and provides structured teacher support.

Its work is rooted in the conviction that every child deserves the opportunity to learn in the language they understand best, and to grow into their full potential as a result.