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5.1.2 Examining Teacher Perceptions About the Teaching and Learning of Mathematically Gifted Learners in South Africa
Former USA President Barack Obama once said that all the wireless devices and fancy software in the world won’t make a difference unless we have great teachers in the classroom. However, in many countries, both current and pre-service teachers typically receive little training in the learning needs of gifted students, and South Africa is no exception. One might then wonder how such teachers are responding to the needs of gifted students in their classrooms. Our view was that a lack of training may hinder teachers from identifying gifted students’ needs and properly modifying curriculum and instruction to enhance their learning. Consistent with that view, the purpose of this study was to examine teacher perceptions about the teaching and learning of mathematically gifted learners.