NCEA exams: Maths teacher and founder of the infinityplusone YouTube channel about helping Kiwi teenagers

“I’m doing a textbook right now,” said the married father of one Herald in between work, home, and his online part-time gig helping some of our youngest mathematicians.

“So I have five evenings (a week) of lessons before exams.”

Not bad for a guy who failed one maths paper at university three times and took almost twice as long as expected to complete his degree.

“Actually, it took me five and a half years to pass the three-year diploma in mathematics. I failed one paper of the first stage three times.

“I often tell this story to children. I say, “You know I actually failed university?” And they ask, “What?”

But he never gave up because he believed — and still believes — that you’re “meant to make mistakes in math,” said Chandar K.

“And, you know, this process creates resilience. If we can rethink what mathematics actually creates resilience, we might see things differently.”

Despite his own struggles and philosophy about failure, several who tuned in to the 1,500 live broadcasts the 42-year-old has hosted over the past decade said Herald online tutorials changed the trajectory of their lives.

Among them is Caitlin Smith, who found herself struggling with the subject after emigrating to New Zealand from South Africa in the 10th year.

“I went from tutoring in South Africa to coming here where it wasn’t as accessible, and I started to do poorly in math, but I also started to develop a love for science.

“So I realized that if I wanted to get into the science field, I had to get better at math.”

Friends in Botany Downs The secondary college told her about Chandar K’s channel and soon her grades improved enough to move her into advanced classes and later into a competitive Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, which the 20-year-old is now studying at the University of Otago.

“(His online tutorials) gave me a lot of confidence because he reviewed NCEA past papers. I used to (I always) get about halfway through an equation and then get stuck on what to do, so watching his videos taught me what strategies to use and each step.

“(He) definitely helped me get to where I am now.”

Chandar K – who received the highest National Excellence in Education award in 2019 for his work as teacher of mathematics and statistics – attributed the success of his followers to their willingness to learn because they decided to click on a video or join a live stream.

“So you’re actually already opening your mind to learning.”

He initially took lessons online at the request of several students while teaching at Ormiston Senior College.

“At first I was helping my students, but I also realized that other kids could use this resource as well.”

When he met some of his followers, during visits to other schools or when they recognized him on the street, many asked him to sign their calculators, Chandar K said.

“My wife thinks it’s very funny. (At first) I thought it was the weirdest thing, but (now I think) anything that makes them happy and anything that puts math in a positive light.”

He recently monetized the channel after growing tired of increased regulation, but the money that came in varied depending on the time of year.

“In January I think I got less than $100 for it, but in November you can make a couple thousand a month, but I’m not really doing it for the money.

“I’m not a spiritual person, I don’t go to a temple or a church, but I believe that something should be given to the community. When I help people, it fills my cup – I don’t expect anything in return and I don’t really need anything.”

Cheri Howie is an Oakland reporter who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for over 20 years and specializes in general news and reporting.

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