Prime Minister’s plans for maths until 18
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has re-announced plans for maths to be a required study until the age of 18.
This comes after what Mr Sunak calls an “anti-maths mindset” which has led to more than 8 million adults having numeracy skills below those expected of a nine year old.
In his first speech as Prime Minister, Mr Sunak addressed his concerns and determination to “re-imagine our approach to Numeracy.”
He told the BBC: “In a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, letting our children out into the world without those skills is letting our them down.”
Since then, the UK’s numeracy ranking has caused major concern for Mr Sunak.
Despite rising in International Education Leagues, it still remains as one of the poorest for numeracy skills out of the 38 OECD group of developed nations.
Speaking out in North London to students, teachers and business leaders, he said: “I won’t sit back and allow this cultural sense that it’s OK to be bad at maths to put our children at a disadvantage.
“My campaign to transform our national approach to maths is not some ‘nice to have’, it’s about changing how we value maths in this country.
“Poor Numeracy has proved a problem for employers, costing the economy tens of billions a year,” the Prime Minister added.
In light of his recent speech, members of the public expressed their views in a variety of different ways.
Left: Rishi Sunak wants children to study maths till 18
Right: Conservative MP Greg Hands struggles to explain the difference between a loan and a discount pic.twitter.com/UaxB94gcKE
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) April 17, 2023
Another user Peter Cherry expressed his views on the prime minister’s plans, sparking a conversation and raising awareness for dyscalculia.
I have dyspraxia and dyscalculia. I failed my maths GCSE. It hasn’t been an easy path but there are ways forward.
— Peter Cherry (@peterjcherry) April 17, 2023
Mr Cherry took deep offence to Mr Sunak’s speech, telling the BBC: “If I was in school now this would have been the end of me, I would have just felt that my future was over.”
“I think we really need a national conversation on dyscalculia.”
In accordance with the Prime Minister’s plans, a group of advisers are set to look into the core maths content and will consider whether or not a new maths qualification is necessary.
Photo Credit: Anoushka Puri