“VUT hosts the IPSF 2025 conference, where researcher Thabo Phelephe presents key findings on technology integration in TVET mathematics, highlighting challenges, opportunities and insights from delegates such as Ms Siseko Nokuthula.”
25 November 2025 | Story by: Ntebogeleng Digasu | Picture: Keitumetse Mokgope
2 minutes read time.
The first International Conference on Innovative Pathways for Sustainable Futures (IPSF 2025), hosted by the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) on 20 November 2025 at the Emerald Hotel, cast a determined light on the future of mathematics education in South Africa’s Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges. Researcher Mr Thabo Phelephe delivered an engaging presentation on his study, Integrating technology into mathematics teaching at Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges in Gauteng: Opportunities and challenges.
In his address, Mr Phelephe drew attention to the widening distance between the swift rise of digital education globally and the slow, uneven pace of technology adoption within South African TVET institutions. He noted that although technology-enhanced learning has transformed classrooms across the world, very little local research exists on how these tools are applied within TVET mathematics settings. This remains a pressing concern, as mathematics serves as the foundation of most technical and vocational programmes, yet many students still view it as a difficult subject, leading to continued underperformance.
Mr Phelephe explained that lecturers face persistent barriers that restrict meaningful technology integration. Limited infrastructure, scarce access to appropriate educational software and insufficient training for educators stood out as key challenges. These constraints reduce teaching effectiveness and deprive students of the digital competencies increasingly demanded by modern workplaces.
The purpose of his research is to provide evidence-based insights that can support institutional planning, inform policy development and sharpen classroom practice. By identifying both the opportunities and the obstacles, the study aims to strengthen teaching strategies, enrich learning experiences and better prepare graduates for a technology-driven economy.
Delegates welcomed the presentation with enthusiasm, describing it as both timely and compelling. Among them was Ms Siseko Nokuthula, an educational development practitioner recognised for her work in driving innovation in the TVET sector. She described the conference as “highly fruitful” and commended the depth of insight shared by presenters. Ms Nokuthula noted that participants left with meaningful reflections on
the future of vocational education, emphasising that discussions such as Mr Phelephe’s are essential for building sustainable and technologically aligned teaching methods. She added that the conference reinforced collaboration and inspired delegates to return to their institutions with renewed purpose and practical ideas to improve learning outcomes.
Hosted by VUT, the IPSF 2025 conference brought together experts committed to reshaping education for a sustainable future. Research contributions such as Mr Phelephe’s continue to play an important role in strengthening South Africa’s vocational education landscape.