Legendary teacher William Smith described as pioneer in education following his passing

JOHANNESBURG - Tributes continue to pour in for legendary maths and science teacher, William Smith, who has been described as a pioneer in the education sector.

The 85-year-old died in Perth, Australia, on Wednesday following a short battle with cancer.

He was popularly known and celebrated for his award-winning television lessons on The Learning Channel.

In a statement, his family announced that he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

South Africans across the generational spectrum have taken to social media to convey their heartfelt condolences over Smith’s passing.

What’s evident from most of the anecdotes shared is that the legendary teacher was a prominent figure in their lives as they navigated numbers in school.

Smith’s daughter, Jessica Smith, also weighed in on her father’s contribution, noting that there had always been an outpouring of gratitude from ordinary South Africans towards him for his impact.

"We have had some wonderful opportunities to use those messages, and I was able to ask my dad a lot about, ‘How did you do this?’ and ‘How did you get into that?’, and everything was around bringing education to people’s fingertips and not making it exclusive."

In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa honoured Smith with a National Order of the Baobab.

He continues to be remembered as an exemplary figure in the education sector who broke boundaries, and whose legacy will linger for generations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also sent his condolences to the family and friends of Smith.
 
Spokesperson to the president, Vincent Magwenya: "He demystified maths and science for his audience, which extended beyond learners to their parents and anyone who wished to revisit these subjects long after they had left school."