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Prime minister and former chancellor vows to tackle 'anti-math mentality' Rishi Sunak is due to deliver a speech on Monday pledging to tackle what he described as the UK's "anti-math mentality" in order to boost the economy. The Prime Minister will announce a peer-led review of how to carry out his plan to ensure that all students in England study some form of mathematics until the age of 18, without making A-levels compulsory.
“We need to change this anti-math mentality. We need to start valuing numeracy for what it is: a key skill that is as essential as reading," Sunak said in a speech from north London later on Monday morning.
“I'm not going to sit idly by and let this cultural sentiment that it's okay to be bad at math put our kids at a disadvantage. My campaign to transform our national approach to mathematics is not a pretty thing. It's about changing the way we value math in this country."
Below, we take a look at everything we know about Mr. Sunak's plan.
There are around 8 million adults in the UK who have the numeracy skills of primary school children, according to government figures.
Currently, only around half of 16-19 year olds are studying math and the problem is particularly acute for disadvantaged students, 60% of whom lack basic math skills by age 16.
Despite these low standards, the UK remains one of the only countries in the world that does not require children to study any form of mathematics until the age of 18.
To tackle the problem, Sunak, when setting out his priorities as prime minister in January, set out an "ambition" to ensure that all pupils in England study some form of mathematics up to the age of 18.
"Recognizing the practical challenges involved, the prime minister will recognize that reform on this scale will not be easy," No 10 said in a statement at the time.
"He will commit to starting the job of introducing mathematics at 18 in this parliament and finishing it in the next."
Rishi Sunak wants students to study mathematics until the age of 18
Some other details of the plan have been worked out and the government has admitted that the aspiration is unlikely to be realized until the next general election, scheduled for the autumn of next year.
In addition to the peer review being rolled out, overnight reports said Mr Sunak would also announce plans for a new qualification for primary math teachers and increase the number of Maths Hubs, which bring together professionals of education in a collaborative national network of 40 centers. each run locally by a leading school or college, to develop and disseminate excellent practice, for the benefit of all pupils and students.
Opposition lawmakers have accused Sunak of reiterating his ambition to divert attention from an ongoing pay dispute that will see teachers leaving at the end of this month.
Meanwhile, teachers and education experts warned that the policy fails to address major problems in the broader education system, including the already severe shortage of math teachers.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and University Leaders, said that rather than "re-announce vague and poorly thought out policy", Sunak should focus on resolving the pay dispute that has sparked the strike.
« It is difficult to understand because the Prime Minister ressasses are ambitious of maths at 18 ans alors qu'il n'a announced this politique qu'en janvier et sans plus de details sur ce qu'elle implicara nor sur la manière dont elle sera implementation.
"It looks like an attempt to divert attention from the most pressing problem in education in England, namely the industrial dispute caused by the erosion of teachers' pay and conditions and the resulting crisis in recruiting and retaining sufficient staff." .
Geoff Barton has accused Mr Sunak of "reannouncing a vague and ill-considered policy"
He added: "This severe shortage directly undermines the prime minister's ambition, as it means there are not enough maths teachers to meet even existing demands, let alone extend maths to all pupils up to the age of 18."
Labor criticized the 'empty promise', with shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson saying: 'Once again the Prime Minister has to show his handiwork: he cannot deliver on this empty promise and he got hot without more teachers from math.
“But after 13 years of failing our kids, the Conservative government is repeatedly missing its target for new math teachers, with math achievement gaps widening and existing teachers leaving en masse.
“The unions don't need a new advisory group to make the right decisions for our children. We will raise the bar in every corner of our country by investing in thousands more teachers, including math teachers, by ending tax breaks for private schools.
Lib Dems have said you don't have to have an A level in math to understand that Sunak's plan "doesn't fit".
PA wire
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Chelmsford, Essex, in March (Kin Cheung/PA)
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