It’s no secret that maths, programming and other logic-based subjects feel like a mountain climb for many students. Meanwhile, subjects like English and life orientation feel more like a gentle stroll. Why is that? Are some people just “not wired” for logic? Or is there something deeper — and fixable — at play?

South Africa’s own numbers raise the alarm. In the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study study, grade nine learners were among the lowest-performing in maths globally. Only around a third of matric students register for pure maths — and even fewer achieve strong marks. 

Many university students continue to struggle with first-year logic-heavy subjects such as maths, programming and physics, despite performing reasonably well in high school. There’s clearly a disconnect between how these subjects are taught and how they need to be learned.

Let’s unpack that.

Here’s the real problem — we teach what to learn but rarely how to learn. In text-based subjects, you can often get by through memorisation — even if understanding is minimal. But in logical subjects, there’s no shortcut. You can’t fake solving an equation or writing a function — you either get it or you don’t.

That’s where the method matters.

Step 1: Learn the rules and make It visual
All logic-based subjects — whether maths, physics or programming — run on rules. But rules are only useful if they’re internalised.
Try this:

• Write down key rules (eg the distributive property, coding syntax structures) on coloured cards or sticky notes.
• Use different felt-tip pens — colour-code different categories (blue for algebra, green for loops, red for errors, etc).
• Stick these notes visibly on a wall or cupboard.
• Keep adding to this visual board over time.

What this does is transform passive reading into active engagement. It’s fun. It’s visual. And it becomes a regular reminder every time you walk into the room.

Step 2: Practise, practise, practise
Once the rules are up, you’re not done. In fact, that’s where the real work begins.
Logical subjects demand repetition. Think of it like preparing for a driver’s licence:

1. You study the rules (theory);
2. You write a test on them; and
3. Then you practise behind the wheel until it becomes second nature.

Likewise, once you know the math laws or code syntax, you must apply them. Don’t just glance at solved problems — do them. Over and over. With pen and paper. From textbooks, worksheets, online study guides and past papers. Try coding small apps or solving the same equation using different methods.

The goal is to go from “understanding in theory” to “I can do this without thinking.”

Text-heavy subjects often reward surface learning. Even if you don’t fully grasp the material, you can memorise quotes or definitions and recall them in an exam. That taps into what psychologists call System 1 thinking — the brain’s fast, intuitive, automatic mode.

But logic-based subjects demand System 2 thinking — slow, effortful, rule-based reasoning. It takes time, patience and consistency. No shortcuts.

That doesn’t make them harder — it just makes them different.

Studies in neuroscience suggest that logical reasoning primarily engages the left hemisphere of the brain, responsible for analytical and sequential thinking. In contrast, the right hemisphere is more involved in creative, verbal and emotional processing.

This doesn’t mean people are “left-brained” or “right-brained” — we use both sides. But it does explain why some students thrive in writing essays and others in debugging code. And it’s also why cross-training your brain by using visual tools, verbal reinforcement and kinesthetic practice (like writing by hand) can make logical learning easier for everyone.

Let’s stop saying, “I’m just not a maths person.” Instead, let’s teach people how to learn logic the right way. Learn the rules, visually and actively; practise them consistently and treat it like a skill just like driving or playing a musical instrument.

Because, once you unlock that process, you don’t just succeed in school — you gain tools that help you reason, analyse and solve problems in every part of life.

Dr Zakia Salod is a medical AI research scientist, software developer, artist and philanthropist. Salod is also a Mail & Guardian Power of Women 2024 alumni, a youth leader and multi-awarded STEMI advocate in South Africa.

Martin Lewis has issued new savings advice for everyone born between 1986 and 2007.

In the latest issue of his podcast, the Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder urged those aged between 18 and 39 to take advantage of a scheme to help them get on the property ladder — and to do it sooner rather than later.

He advised anyone within this age group who wants to buy a house to put £1 in a Lifetime ISA (LISA) account ‘ASAP’, both to reap the rewards it offers and ensure they don’t miss out due to a cut-off.

The government-backed scheme gives first time buyers 25% extra on savings of up to £4,000 a year in the tax-free account.

While the bonus – which adds up to a maximum of £1,000 for each year you have it, and can be spent on properties priced up to £450,000 – is only payable after a year, you don’t have to put the full amount in straight away to receive it.

Savers can also put money into a LISA until they turn 50, but need to make their first payment before reaching 40 years old to receive bonuses.

Martin explains: ‘Just putting a pound in now even if you’re not ready to use it means when you are ready to use it the clock will have been ticking.

‘You would have had it open a year. So you’re perfectly eligible to suddenly go and get the bonus when you want.

‘In fact, parents, on your kid’s 18th birthday, why not get them a LISA and put a pound in it?’

Although you’ll pay a 6.25% penalty for withdrawing the money in your LISA rather than using it to pay for a home purchase, if you open yours with just £1 you only risk losing 6p.

And if that’s the worst that happens, the financial guru thinks it’s ‘worth it,’ to give yourself the option should you want it further down the line.

Big brands like HSBC, Natwest and Halifax all offer Lifetime ISA accounts, each with their own interest rates but all qualifying for the government bonus.

Despite endorsing the scheme though, Martin has been a strident campaigner for the £450,000 limit (which has remained the same since) to be raised, most recently as part of a new government report on LISA reform.

He told the Treasury Select Committee: ‘We have a succession of young people who are saving in the vehicle they have been encouraged to save in by the state, who are then trying to use their savings to buy a first-time property, but due to house price inflation their property has just tripped above the £450,000 level.

‘Then not only do they not get the £1,000 a year bonus they were intended to get – which I understand is legitimate as a threshold – but they are fined by the state effectively 6.25% of their own money in order to withdraw that money to get the cash out.’

In response to Martin’s comments, the Committee agreed the LISA may not be ‘working as intended’, highlighting HMRC stats which reveal that £213 million in withdrawal charges was taken from more than 286,000 savers in the six tax years to 2023-24 — an average of over £3,000 per person.

The report made recommendations to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of plans to ‘imminently’ update the system, with a Treasury spokesperson claiming it would now ‘review its findings and respond in due course.’

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M&S has long been associated with dine in treats, picky bits and limited edition yumminess (strawberry sando and Big Daddy choc, we’re looking at you). It’s not somewhere most of us do our weekly shop.

But now, the supermarket has launched more than 100 new items in a bid to become ‘a true shopping list retailer’ that can compete with the likes of Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

From this week, M&S has expanded its Bigger Pack, Better Value range by a third, aiming to deliver family-sized staples at affordable prices.

New lines added to the range include 12 Free Range British Eggs for £3.20, a four pack of Hass avocados for £3.50, and larger size Double Cream (600ml) for £2.65.

Historically it’s been hard to get everything you need at M&S, but alongside new family packs, shoppers will now find other cupboard essentials in store, from medicines and bulk-buy washing tablets, to baby food and own-brand formula. 

The changes couldn’t come sooner for M&S, which is still managing the fallout from a huge cyber attack earlier this year.

The high street shop was targeted by hackers in April, which disrupted contactless payments and Click and Collect – just one of many major retailers that have been hacked in recent months.

Shoppers were faced with empty shelves and a pause in online orders, with M&S stating that its profits would be reduced by around £300 million due to the impact. 

Alex Freudmann, managing director at M&S Food, said the chain has been ‘working hard’ on the expanded line to ‘close our range gaps and make sure the price and quality of our key family lines delivers against customers expectations.’

‘All this has been increasing our credibility with families and we’re seeing strong growth with these shoppers,’ he said.

‘As we always say at M&S, there’s still lots of opportunity to go further and really cement M&S as the destination for families to get everything they need, at the quality you can only get from M&S.’

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What constitutes a decent wage is far more than just the number on your payslip — it’s all about the lifestyle that income affords you.

For example, Londoners make more on average than anyone else in the UK. But given the astronomical cost of living, they don’t always have much to show for it by the end of the month.

According to new research, the capital is technically the worst-paid city in the country, losing out to 33 others when salaries were compared to expenses.

While workers in Middlesborough take home an average of £21,514 less each year, Smoggies are far better off than those in the Big Smoke, with the Teesside spot taking the overall crown for affordability.

Using government and industry data, takepayments analysed 15 factors – from rent and bills to the price of a pint – against wages in the biggest cities across the UK, giving each one a score out of 10.

Middlesborough ranked top in the index with 6.51, largely thanks to its £139,855 average house price and £609 monthly rents, which make up for a relatively low average salary of £36,649.

This was followed by Sunderland (6.3) and Newcastle (6.11), also North East cities boasting a famously reasonable cost of living.

On the contrary, London scored just 3.91, as despite a winning £58,163 wage, this was balanced out by highest property prices (£516,710), rent per month (£1,933) and annual car insurance premiums (£1,190)

Next up were Brighton and Bristol with affordability ratings of 3.5 and 4.15 respectively. And although Manchester, Edinburgh and Leeds featured, six of the ten least affordable cities were in the South of England, reinforcing the North-South living expense divide even further.

However, Jodie Wilkinson, head of strategic partnerships at takepayments, notes: ‘Many cities where affordability is high also rank among the lowest for disposable income and wages. According to ONS’ regional labour market data from the last quarter of 2024, the North East has an employment rate of 70.3%, which is below the national average of 75% while Northern Ireland’s rate is 72.1%. 

‘Looking ahead, job creation is expected to favour London and Southern England. In contrast, all other areas are estimated to increase slower than the UK’s average, including the North East. For jobseekers and businesses alike, this highlights the trade-off between cost of living and access to employment.’

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In the proximity of great tragedy there often lies an eerie stillness, as if any loud noise or sudden movement might trigger nature’s wrath again. Such is the feeling here this week in this town about 25 minutes outside of the Kerr County flood zone where more than 100 souls have perished.

Within hours of the flash floods on Friday, Boerne (pronounced like Bernie), along with nearby towns such as Fredrickburg, and Welfare, were already assembling supplies and arranging volunteers for their flooded neighbors. That’s just what they do here.

TEXAS FLOOD SURVIVORS SHARE HARROWING STORIES, SEARCH CONTINUES FOR THOSE STILL MISSING

I met Dick outside the Black Rifle Coffee cafe on Main Street. He’s retired, has lived in the town for 25 years and he told me, “Everybody feels it. If this doesn’t make you sad, then you aren’t human.” 

When I asked Dick if he was surprised by how aggressively the community responded, he told me, “Not at all, it’s how we are,” adding, “Did you know this area was founded in the 19th century by German freethinkers? They wanted to be free, and we still do, so we take care of our own.”

As we spoke beneath the unparalleled beauty of the same Texas skies that wrought such devastation last week, we saw and heard massive equipment on the backs of flat beds, heading to Kerr County.

Dick wasn’t the first person to raise these Hill Country roots to me. Even on my plane, the woman next to me, who lives in the area, gave me a short history of the free thinkers and their impact, and she was an immigrant from Colombia.

Later in the day, I spoke with Kristen who lives in Fredericksburg, and told me that she knew things looked bad early on Friday. She was annoyed at first by the initial lack of news coverage, “then we heard about the camp, that girls were missing, it was a gut punch.”

By Saturday morning, she and her friends were bringing supplies to the town of Comfort, which had turned what was supposed to be a legendary local fireworks show into an emergency center.

This was also about when Rabbi Yosef Marrus, of the Chabbad of Boerne, began not only collecting supplies, but contacting the organization’s headquarters in Brooklyn to begin a national fundraising campaign.

“The Jewish community in the Hill Country is small, Marrus told me, “but we are proud to be here and had to help. We are all Americans.”

Marrus stressed to me the importance of finding out what specifically is needed in the area. In one case, a fire department was flush with food donations but didn’t have enough refrigerators to store them. Not long after, the Chabbad bought two fridges and had them delivered.

One of the central locations where Marrus and others have staged supplies is Bunker Branding in Boerne, owned by Clint Sanders and his wife Jenna, and it was abuzz with activity on Monday morning.

“We do branding for a lot of websites,” Clint told me, “so we had a way to get word out and we needed to do something, and we have this warehouse space.”

He walked me through the facility. There were different items staged around and trailers outside to be packed. Sanders also told me that finding out what is really needed is key. “We have a ton of donated clothes upstairs, but they don’t need clothes right now. Next week maybe they will.”

Impressed as I was by the operation, I said to Sanders, “How do you and your wife know how to do all this?” Without missing a beat, he smiled and said, “We don’t.”

That really is the most impressive part of all of this. No regular person really knows what to do after 20 feet of water rises in 45 minutes, taking with it scores of lives, but with the help of the state, local and federal authorities, they learn on the job with incredible speed.

Maybe, given the particularly horrible loss of life of so many children from this area, people need something to do, to stay busy. 

On the couple of occasions when the loss of so many kids came to the fore of my conversations, a thousand-yard stare would emerge in their eyes; How does one even comprehend?

Being here in Boerne, seeing the selfless efforts of these tough Texans, I trust that the German freethinkers who settled this land 175 years ago would be very proud today of the communities they created. 

And as Americans, we should all be very proud of them, too.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS

A federal judge on Monday prevented the Trump administration from enforcing part of a massive tax and spending bill that would block Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood health centers.

The temporary restraining order by Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts blocks the “big, beautiful bill’s” provision to defund the family planning provider. 

At issue is the provision in the new tax and spending bill signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4 that eliminates one year of Medicaid payments from Planned Parenthood health centers because the organization also provides abortions.

SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN OKS BAN ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERAL FUNDING IN TRUMP MEGABILL

A White House official told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration is committed to ending the use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortions. The official noted that the administration’s stance is a commonsense position that the overwhelming majority of Americans agree with.

On Monday, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Association of Utah filed a lawsuit in federal court.

“The prohibition specifically targets Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its member health care providers in order to punish them for lawful activity, namely advocating for and providing legal abortion access wholly outside the Medicaid program and without using any federal funds,” the lawsuit states. 

SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN MEDICAID FUNDING DISPUTE

If allowed to stand, Planned Parenthood said the provision would have “devastating consequences” for the more than 1 million patients who use Medicaid as their insurance at Planned Parenthood health centers across the country to get birth control and cancer screenings, among other services. 

Dominique Lee, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said the organization has a long history of fighting for sexual and reproductive freedom.

“The Trump administration’s hell-bent ambitions to close our clinics and abandon our patients won’t stop us. Let me be crystal clear: We are not intimidated. We were built for this moment,” she said. “Here in Massachusetts, we fight back, and we will never be bullied into turning our backs on health care or human rights.”

While Tom Thibodeau has not spoken since the New York Knicks relieved him of his head coaching duties, one of his former players revealed what he’s thinking after speaking with him. 

Derrick Rose, the former Knicks star who played for Thibodeau for years, called it “crazy” to see New York move on from the longtime head coach. 

“I talked to Thibs after that. He’s good,” Rose said during a NASCAR press conference, where he was serving as grand marshal in Chicago. 

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The Knicks still must pay Thibodeau, as a buyout was a part of his deal he signed before the start of last season.

“You can’t be mad when you’re walking away with $30 million,” Rose added. “So, can’t feel too sorry for him. But he’s in good spirits. Yeah, that’s my guy. We locked in till the end. But he’s good. Jalen [Brunson] is still in New York. He’s gonna be ballin’. Everybody wins, I feel like.”

It’s unknown if Thibodeau is looking to coach anywhere this season, though the Knicks found his replacement. Mike Brown will be the team’s new head coach. 

Thibodeau’s tenure in New York lasted five seasons, during which he led his squad to the playoffs four times. 

The most recent run was to the Eastern Conference Finals, when the Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers — the same team that defeated them in the second round the year prior.

Rose joined Thibodeau when he began his time with the Knicks during the 2020-21 campaign. The former Chicago Bulls MVP played three seasons with Thibodeau in New York, as well as with the Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Thibodeau’s Knicks consistently got better by the season, but his minutes usage of his stars, especially Jalen Brunson, was criticized by many. 

It made sense in playoff situations, but his starters would run up high minutes totals during regular-season games as well.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he had sent a letter to the Nobel Prize Committee to nominate President Donald Trump for the peace prize.

Trump and Netanyahu met at the White House on Monday to discuss developments in the Middle East.

While speaking to reporters, Netanyahu spoke about the relationship between Israel and the U.S.

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“I want to express the appreciation and admiration not only of all Israelis, but of the Jewish people and many, many admirers around the world, for your leadership, your leadership of the free world, your leadership of a just cause, and the pursuit of peace and security,” he said. “The president has an extraordinary team, and I think our teams, together, make, an extraordinary combination to meet challenges and seize opportunities.

“But the president has already realized great opportunities. He forged the Abraham Accords. He’s forging peace as we speak, in one country and one region after the other,” Netanyahu continued. “So, I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize committee. It’s nominating you for the peace prize, which is well-deserved.”

Trump accepted the letter, saying he was unaware of the nomination and thanking the prime minister.

The U.S. Navy will drop from 11 to 10 aircraft carriers for about a year once the USS Nimitz is decommissioned next year, as recent budget documents show a new carrier will be delayed from its original delivery date.

According to the Department of Defense Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget estimates, Newport News Shipbuilders was expected to deliver the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) to the Navy by July 2025, but that has since shifted to March 2027.

“The CVN 79 delivery date shifted from July 2025 to March 2027 (preliminary acceptance TBD) to support completion of Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) certification and continued Advanced Weapons Elevator (AWE) work,” FY 2026 shipbuilding budget book reads.

Both the Advanced Arresting Gear certification and Advanced Weapons Elevator work are systems that were incorporated into the Ford class carriers.

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HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia told USNI News that it is taking lessons learned and applying them with the new ships in its class.

“Specifically, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) construction was fairly advanced when many Ford lessons were realized, precluding timely implementation of lessons learned for Kennedy,” Todd Corillo, HII company spokesperson, told the publication. “In contrast, Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81) have been able to incorporate, leverage and capitalize on Ford lessons learned earlier in the construction process.”

Also being shifted was the delivery of the USS Enterprise (CVN-80), which was expected to be delivered in September 2029, but has since been pushed back to July 2030.

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“The CVN 80 delivery date shifted from September 2029 to July 203 due to delays in material availability and industry/supply chain performance,” the document’s footnotes read.

USNI reported that the Navy originally planned to pursue a dual-phase delivery approach for the Kennedy but has since switched to a single-phase delivery, which added two additional years of work to the vessel’s design and construction contract.

Under the new plans, the Kennedy would be outfitted to handle the fifth-generation F-35C Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II and be outfitted with the new Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, USNI reported.

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Officials originally thought the dual-phase approach would save the Navy money when it came to construction costs and by minimizing the downtime between the Nimitz decommissioning and Kennedy delivery.

These delays come as the USS Nimitz prepares to be decommissioned.

Commissioned on May 3, 1975, the Nimitz is the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy.

It is currently on its final sea voyage in the Middle East, as the Nimitz is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026.

The deployment is significant because the Nimitz was also deployed in 1980 when its helicopters were part of the failed U.S. effort known as Operation Eagle Claw to rescue the American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The U.S. has been in a shadow war against Iran ever since.

Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.

Pearl Jam member Matt Cameron has announced he will be leaving the band after 27 years as their drummer.

“After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter.

“I am forever grateful to the crew, staff and fans the world over. It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” Cameron wrote on social media.

Pearl Jam’s remaining members, Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Jeff Ament, released their own statement and thanked Cameron for his commitment to the band for nearly three decades.

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“From being one of our first musical heroes in the bands Skinyard and the mighty Soundgarden, to playing on our first demos in 1990, Matt Cameron has been a singular and true powerhouse of a musician and drummer. 

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“He has propelled the last 27 years of Pearl Jam live shows and studio recordings. It was a deeply important chapter for our group and we wish him well always. He will be deeply missed and is forever our friend in art and music. We love you Matt,” their statement read.

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Cameron became a member of Pearl Jam in 1998 following the break-up of his former music group, Soundgarden, in 1997. Cameron is Pearl Jam’s longest-serving drummer and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.