Tributes are pouring in for South Africa’s favourite Maths and Science teacher,
William Smith. Smith passed away after a long battle with cancer at his home in
Perth, Australia, surrounded by family. He was 85 years-old.

Through the medium of television, Smith made Mathematics and Science acces-
sible even to the most marginalised in society. He presented the programme on SABC TV, especially during the national examination period, during prime time in
the 90s.

Smith matriculated at Union High School in the Eastern Cape. He obtained a
Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Chemistry from Rhodes University,
followed by an honors degree in Chemistry from the same institution.

He further obtained a master’s degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in
only seven months. While being a teacher, he obtained financial support to run an
expensive TV operation.

His ground-breaking TV programme in the 1990s was called the Learning Chan-
nel and was an open South African school, teaching Physical Science, Mathe-
matics, Biology and English.