Rhodes mourns 'teacher of the nation' William Smith
Rhodes University has paid tribute to beloved maths and science teacher William Smith.
Smith passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer.
He died at his home in Australia at the age of 85.
In 2021, Rhodes University conferred Smith with a Doctor of Laws degree and completed his BSc and BSc (Hons) at the University.
His first project in the education sector was establishing Star Schools to provide value-for-money education with top-class teachers.
During the 20 years Smith was at the helm, Star Schools was responsible for some of the most innovative advancements in education in South Africa, including the Pre-University School, which prepared first-year students and was adopted by universities across the country.
“Thanks to his exceptional teaching skills and compassion, for almost two decades, the Learning Channel became an indispensable platform for young people of our country to receive interactive TV education in Mathematics and Science," said Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela.
"In this way, he became the teacher for the entire South African nation.”
In 2019, Smith was awarded a National Order award for his contribution to teaching and demystifying mathematics and science.
Smith made mathematics and science accessible to all pupils for free through television in a groundbreaking 1990s TV programme called the 'Learning Channel' on SABC 2.
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