31st Annual AMESA National Congress 13 –17 July 2026
University of Mpumalanga Campus Mbombela City Mpumalanga Province
The closing date for normal registrations is approaching
Please submit your registration by 30 June 2026
- You are cordially invited to the 31st Annual National Congress of the Association for Mathematics Education of South Africa (AMESA) where contributions around the theme below and other pertinent mathematics education issues will be deliberated.Breaking Barriers Through Innovation: Towards Vision 2030 & Beyond
VENUE
University of MpumalangaMbombela Campus
Cnr R40 and D725 Roads
Mbombela
DATE
13 – 17 July 2026
MORE ABOUT THE CONGRESS THEME
Mathematics remains the key subject to drive innovation and development in our society. Participation and performance in the subject is still a major challenge in the country. A number of barriers in learning the subject remain unresolved. To mention a few barriers, there is a critical shortage of well-skilled mathematics teachers, and classrooms are over-crowded in many schools.
In basic education, the mathematics pass percentage in the NSC grade 12 results has never reached 70%. If the status quo is maintained, the country may not produce enough competent technicians, accountants, engineers, and scientists in different fields. The country’s broader vision is that by 2030, about 90 percent of learners in grades 3, 6, and 9 must achieve 50 percent or more in the annual national assessments in literacy, mathematics, and science.
Traditional teaching methods have not assisted in improving understanding and mastery of basic mathematical skills, a requisite for problem-solving and application in real-life situations. The congress calls for sharing innovative ways of teaching and learning of Mathematics, Technical Mathematics, and Mathematical Literacy.
AMESA CONGRESS 2026 SUB-THEMES
The Congress intends to:
- Dispel the myth that Mathematics is a dry subject for a selected few through innovative ways for teaching and learning
- Use ICT and all available technology to make Mathematics interesting for meaningful learning. Technology in the hands of great teachers can be truly transformational.
- Collaborate & innovate such that there is mass participation & success to achieve the NDP -2030 goals.
- Employ transformative and creative ways to break barriers.
- Break Barriers, thus building a future.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear AMESA members, friends of AMESA and other stakeholders
The 31st Annual Congress that you have been waiting for has arrived and we once more invite you to come and be part of this great 5-day.
The theme “Breaking Barriers Through Innovation: Towards Vision 2030 & Beyond” is a beacon to 2030. We cannot afford to overlook the NDP goals, particularly those addressing challenges facing Mathematics Education.
We have packed an academic program like no other years, plenary speakers of note and maths market for you. We expect presentations of very high standard that will mostly impact the classroom this year.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever”. Mahatma Ghandi. See you there!!!
Thank You!
- The programme includes
- Pre-congress workshops: Sunday 12 July 2026: 14:00-17:00
- Plenary addresses on the congress theme from the following invited speakers:
- Duano Sapta Nusantara (University of Jambi, Indonesia) (International)
- Samukelisiwe Khumalo (University of Mpumalanga, South Africa)
- Dunkan Mhakure (University of Cape Town, South Africa)
- Louise Fullard (Deputy Chief Education Specialist, Mpumalanga Department of Education, South Africa)
- Thulani Sibiya (Senior Education Specialist, Mpumalanga Department of Education, South Africa)
- Panel discussions There will be two panel discussions.
- Congress Theme: Breaking Barriers Through Innovation: Towards Vision 2030 & Beyond
- The alarming number of public schools that no longer offer Mathematics as a subject.
- Parallel sessions presented by participants, in the following levels: Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase, FET Phase, and Teacher Education.
These sessions will follow the following formats:
- Long papers (40 minutes presentation plus 20 minutes discussion)
- Short papers (20 minutes presentation plus 10 minute discussion)
- “How I Teach” papers (20 minutes presentation plus 10 minute discussion)
- Posters (Exhibited on a 1,2 m × 1,8 m board, for the duration of the conference. Authors
should be available at certain hours for discussion.)
- Workshops (1 or 2 hours)
- Activity Centre: Hands-on practical mathematics activities for participants.
- Maths Market: Commercial vendors promoting their products, books, kits, calculators, computer software etc.
- AMESA Curriculum Phase Committees discussions
- AMESA Special Interest Group meetings
- AMESA Annual General Meeting
OTHER FEATURES OF THE CONGRESS
Social Events
Excursions
Daily exhibitions competitions
Memorabilia
Internet facilities at designated areas
- Kindly complete this form to register for AMESA Congress 2026.
- After submitting the form, you will receive an email giving you payment details including the amount due by you. Email proof of payment to congress2026@amesa.org.za
- Please make the payment and send it to the given email address. Not that your application is not complete unless you have submitted the form and sent proof of payment. When typeing amounts,type whole number, i.e. 2500 instead of R 2 500,00.
- If you are not a member of AMESA, please download, conmplete the registration and then upload the membership form at the designated section. No need to email the membership form thereafter.
- For MEMORABILIA please click HERE or at https://forms.office.com/r/89XDd3pNcg?origin=lprLink
- Thanks for your interest in AMESA Congress 2026
Full Conference Registration
Conference registration are now closed
Registration Details
Conference Dates
13 to 17 July 2026
Venue – University of Mpumalanga,
Mbombela, Mpumalanga City
If you wish to register for a single day
@ R800.00, click on the link below
Conference Fees
-
1. Early Registration R 2 500.00
on or before 30 April 2026
-
2. Normal Registration R 2 800.00
01 May to 30 June 2026
-
3. Late Registration R 3 000.00
01 July to 6 July 2026 @ 11:00
-
4. Normal Registration Virtual R 1 200.00
by 31 May 2026
-
5. Late Registration Virtual R 1 500.00
01 June till 30 June 2026
Conference Fees
Congress bank account details are as follows:
Bank: ABSA
Branch Code: 632005
Account name: AMESA Congress
Account Number: 9271293382
Payment of registration and other fees
All Congress payments must be paid directly into the Congress bank account. The methods of payments are either an EFT or a cash deposit paid at the bank
Please send a copy of Proof of Payment (POP) to the Congress Secretary at email address: congress2026@amesa.org.za Also copy Nombulelo.Mandindi@wits.ac.za
Delegates are also advised to bring a copy of POP when coming to register on the afternoon of 12 July 2026 or early in the morning of 13 July 202
The last date for LATE registration is 06 July 2026 @ 11:00. No registrations will be accepted after this date and time!
No credit card payments will be accepted at the conference venue. Pay before closing date.
Cancellation Policy
Once your registration form has been submitted and processed, a cancellation fee of 20% of all costs will be charged for cancellations up to 20 June 2026. After 20 June 2026 no refunds will be made for any cancellation of complete or partial costs.
Accommodation
Congress 2026 does not provide accommodation. Attendees are responsible for booking their own lodges and hotels. Some are listed in the Final Announcement available AMESA Website (Write website address) Please Note: The Congress LOC has NO arrangements with these accommodations. The UMP student residence is NOT available. Make a booking on time.
AMESA Membership
You are reminded that the AMESA National Congress is an official AMESA activity. Thus, it is for fully paid-up AMESA members only. If you have not renewed your membership for 2026 or are a non- member, kindly access the electronic version of the membership form using the link below or fill in the membership form on page 16.
All details are shown on the form. It is a fillable form. Please type in all your details accurately. Once completed, please email the form to membership@amesa.org.za
Your proof of membership fee payment must be submitted separately as it goes into the AMESA account (and not the Congress account). Details of the account number are in the membership form
Application for Finncial Support
A limited amount of funding is available to assist those participants who would otherwise be unable to attend the Congress. The application form must be submitted by 11 April 2026.