Maths out for the count?

Should the importance of maths be "re-evaluated"?

Maths should not be compulsory for all secondary school pupils, says a report from academics.

A report from the University of London's Institute of Education in London University challenges the "special status" of maths and calls for a "re-evaluation" of its central place in the school curriculum.

If mathematics is important because it provides some of the means essential to living well as an adult in our sort of society, then sociology or political studies can be said to be equally important.

Steve Bramall, Institute of Education

"The maths we need for everyday life and work is mostly learnt by the end of primary school. So why force young people with little interest or ability in maths to go on learning it throughout their school careers?" says John White, the co-editor of Why Learn Maths?

This scepticism towards maths is echoed by the other co-author, Steve Bramall, also of the Institute of Education, who suggests that sociology might be as useful for pupils.

"If mathematics is important because it provides some of the means essential to living well as an adult in our sort of society, then sociology or political studies can be said to be equally important."

And although recognising that his thoughts might be "heretical", John MacBeath of Strathclyde University speculated that maths could be reduced in secondary schools to an extra-curricular activity for a few enthusiasts.

But defending the subject, a secondary school head of maths, Tony Parsons, said that the problem was not with maths, but the way it was taught.

"These are not reasons for dropping mathematics from the compulsory curriculum, but for rediscovering the meanings of mathematics and education," said Mr Parsons.