• William Smith, the face of The Learning Channel passed away after a fight against cancer.
• The maths and science educator received the Order of the Baobab in 2019.
• Smith touched the lives of millions who struggled with maths and science, even helping some of us at Hypertext pass those subjects in Matric.

Every once in a while, a person touches the lives of so many South Africans that when they pass away, it seems as if the entire country is mourning them.

On Wednesday afternoon it was announced that William Smith, a mathematics and science educator that helped countless learners grasp those subjects, passed away.

With his backlit board, marker stained fingers and infectious smile, Smith was the face and founder of The Learning Channel, a series of programmes broadcast on SABC channels that covered physical science, mathematics, biology and English. On this programme, several educators helped students get a better understand of subjects they were struggling with. These days one could find videos on YouTube to help understand these subjects but in the 90s and early 2000s, The Learning Channel was one of the few resources learners had outside of a classroom or library. What’s more is that being broadcast on the SABC, it was accessible to all South Africans.

As a Matric learner who struggled with chemistry and mathematics, I credit Smith and his televised lessons with helping me pass those subjects. Of course my teachers helped as well but it was the hour spent in front of the TV watching Smith enthusiastically coach learners to solve the problems he was working on.

In 2019, Smith received the Order of the Baobab. The teacher retired to Perth, Australia but he was recently diagnosed with cancer. The cancer had reached an advanced stage and he sadly lost that fight.

“He faced his final moments with grace, expressing contentment in his accomplishments and the impact he made in the fields of education and conservation. His legacy will endure through the lives he touched and the difference he made. William will be profoundly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him,” his family said in a statement.

Following the news of his passing, tributes have poured in on social media from citizens and government. The hashtag #RIPWilliamSmith is trending on X.

“He demystified maths and science for his audience which extended beyond learners to their parents and anyone who wished to revisit these subjects or learn more, long after they had left school,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement.

“William Smith’s passion for his curriculum and for the success of those he taught in classrooms, at matric camps and on TV benefited millions of young South Africans even before our transition to democracy and the dawn of a new dispensation of equal education. May his soul rest in peace.”

Smith is testament to how important teachers are and how much of an impact educators can have on the lives of their students.

He will be missed and we send our deepest condolences to Smith’s family during this tragic time.