Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 05/07/2012. Tags: Secondary School News
A new report has revealed the number of high-achieving maths students in Ireland lags behind those in other developed nations.
The paper from the National Competitiveness Council raises concerns about the country's future competitiveness in the subject, according to the Irish Times.
It is suggested the maths problem is a result of "lack of application, the points system, school policy and guidance, as well as student choice".
The report also highlights whether planned changes to the maths curriculum will be enough to resolve the underachievement crisis.
Concerns about the transition year are also mentioned, with the paper questioning "whether the discontinuity in mathematics development and effort caused by the transition year is advisable for some talented young people".
According to the findings, only seven per cent of Irish teenagers are high achievers, compared with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD's) average of 13 per cent.
The OECD's mission is to help promote policies that will improve the economic and social wellbeing of people around the world.
Written by Donal Walsh
Comments
DebMcMahon
(05-07-2012 14:00)
most high achievers in maths would need to be accelerated through the maths curriculum as the pace is too slow and algebra is introduced too late after the brain has finished growing