A major new report looks at how to boost the take-up of mathematics in secondary schools through the Project Maths initiative.
The programme is designed to improve maths teaching in order to enhance students’ skills and understanding, giving them an appreciation of the relevance of maths and how it applies to everyday life and problem-solving.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, has welcomed the report of the Project Maths Implementation Support Group.
This partnership between industry and education was set up to examine how business, second-level and higher education bodies can work together to achieve the objectives of Project Maths.
Some €5 million is being invested in professional development of teachers this year to support the initiative, and this will continue on a rolling basis to at least 2013. It is the biggest investment in curriculum reform in a subject ever made by the State.
Main recommendations
The report’s key recommendations include:
- The rollout of Project Maths to all schools from September 2010
- The provision of at least one maths class each school day for all students in all schools
- The objective that by 2018 all those teaching maths should hold maths qualifications, with postgraduate courses provided to enable approximately 2,000 teachers without these qualifications to upgrade their skills
- Promoting the Project Maths message to all stakeholders through various media
The wide-ranging report also recommends:
- Awards for excellence in mathematics
- Industry volunteers to support teachers and students
- A mentoring scheme for high achievers
- A “Maths Champions Programme”
- The development of resources and other supports to provide authentic real-life maths examples in support of the curriculum
- The provision of comprehensive information on maths-related careers
Bonus points in Leaving Cert
While the group didn’t reach a consensus on giving bonus points for maths subjects, it recommended that:
- If bonus points are introduced they should be designed to compensate for the perceived additional workload associated with higher-level maths
- Such bonus points should be used to encourage pupils who currently drop down from higher to ordinary level late in the senior cycle, who might be likely to score a Grade C at higher level
- There should be discussions with higher education institutions about possibly making maths a mandatory subject for CAO purposes
- These institutions should offer a safety net of “second chance” exams in the autumn for students who have taken higher-level maths but fail to reach minimum matriculation requirements. This would encourage more students to sit Leaving Cert Mathematics at higher level
Welcoming the report, the Tánaiste said: “Maths is an essential skill for disciplines such as science, technology, engineering and finance, but it is also an essential skill for life.
“The ability to think rationally, analyse and solve problems, and process data clearly and accurately is assuming increasing importance as Ireland moves up the value chain in employment in the knowledge society.
“I am very pleased to see this partnership between the second level and higher education sectors and industry promoting and adding value to Project Maths.”
Learn more
Download the Project Maths report (PDF, 555 KB)
