According to reports, half of adults in the UK have the same level of numeracy as a child would have at primary school. The United Kingdom’s lack of math skills is estimated to cost 20 billion pounds annually.
UK: Colchester
To assist young people “in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job,” UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has proposed making the study of mathematics mandatory for all students in England up to the age of 18.
It is not a novel idea to mandate math education beyond the age of 16. Other ministers have suggested it, but it hasn’t happened. However, it is evident that the prime minister’s reasoning is based on facts. The United Kingdom lacks mathematical expertise.
Only about 20% of students with non-STEM degrees in higher education have studied mathematics after the age of 16, according to the government’s 2017 Smith Review. According to a report by the Nuffield Foundation, which compared England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales to 20 other developed nations (including Estonia, Spain, Japan, Korea, and Russia), four of the only six nations found that they did not require mathematics education after the age of 16.
In addition, it is reported that half of adults in the UK have the same level of numeracy as a child would have at primary school. The United Kingdom’s lack of math skills is estimated to cost £20 billion annually.
Lack of resources
Rishi Sunak proposed making math compulsory for all students up to the age of 18 in the United Kingdom. Here’s how his plan might work in practice.
UK: Colchester To assist young people “in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job,” UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has proposed making the study of mathematics mandatory for all students in England up to the age of 18.
It is not a novel idea to mandate math education beyond the age of 16. Other ministers have suggested it, but it hasn’t happened. However, it is evident that the prime minister’s reasoning is based on facts. The United Kingdom lacks mathematical expertise.
Only about 20% of students with non-STEM degrees in higher education have studied mathematics after the age of 16, according to the government’s 2017 Smith Review. According to a report by the Nuffield Foundation, which compared England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales to 20 other developed nations (including Estonia, Spain, Japan, Korea, and Russia), four of the only six nations found that they did not require mathematics education after the age of 16.
In addition, it is reported that half of adults in the UK have the same level of numeracy as a child would have at primary school. The United Kingdom’s lack of math skills is estimated to cost £20 billion annually.
Despite the limited resources, Sunak’s plan has been criticized. The widespread shortage of math teachers is a barrier to expanding math education. Teachers leaving their jobs exacerbate this shortage. Five years after qualifying, approximately a third of all teachers leave their positions.
There are also funding issues. Due to budget cuts, schools are having difficulty providing staff and students with the necessary amenities.
Sunak made it clear that he did not intend for all students to take A-level math, even though the government has not yet specified what form post-16 mandatory math would take. Instead, the government is looking into options that take into account qualifications that already exist, like core math.
Since 2015, the subject has been taught. It was first introduced in 2013. It differs from A-level math by emphasizing the practical application of concepts like finance, modeling, optimization, statistics, probability, and risk rather than their theoretical foundation. The majority of required background mathematical skills are similar to GCSE math in difficulty.
extending fundamental math
Making core math compulsory (for those who do not take A-level math) may be the best option if the government is committed to expanding post-secondary math instruction.
Although teachers must possess a competent level of mathematics knowledge, core maths does not strictly require teachers to be subject specialists, which is an additional benefit.
It is intended for math A-level students who have completed their GCSE but will not be taking math A-levels. It earns the same number of UCAS points as an AS-level, which is roughly equivalent to half of an A-level, and can be taught alongside existing A-level qualifications. It can be taught in a single year or in two.
Although slowly, the number of core math students has increased: from less than 3,000 students in 2015 to just over 12,000 in 2022.
The credential is currently only offered by a select few higher education institutions. Core maths does not count as one of the three required A-level qualifications that universities typically base offers on, so universities have been slow to recognize the qualification. However, some universities have begun to include core math in their student offers.
Mathematics is already required in some post-secondary educational pathways that are not based on A-levels. These include vocational qualifications like T-Levels and the International Baccalaureate. In addition, students in post-secondary education who have not achieved a grade of C or higher in GCSE mathematics must retake this exam until they pass.
However, if Sunak’s assertions are correct and the requirement to take mathematics until the age of 18 is so obvious, it may suggest that GCSE mathematics is not meeting students’ needs adequately. Problems that students face at a much younger age are frequently the root cause of the low rate of mathematics enrollment after the age of 16.
Numerous young people have severe anxiety and even a strong dislike for math. Before making mathematics compulsory after the age of 16, it may be necessary to carefully examine the current curriculum.
