One in three maths teachers lack degree

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Posted on 2009-11-06 in

One in three maths teachers lack degree

MORE than one in three secondary school maths teachers are not graduates in the subject, it has been revealed. Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes, who received the information from the Department of Education, said it was worrying that more than 2,000 maths teachers did not have a maths degree.

Figures show that only 3,858 of the 5,900 maths teachers at second level are qualified in the subject.

"While the quality of maths teaching is still high, it would obviously be an advantage if every teacher that taught it had actually studied it," he said.

"Maths graduates should be given incentives to become teachers. One proposal would be to give a discount in fees to maths graduates who do a HDip."

Mr Hayes accused Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe of being "asleep at the wheel" when it came to policy to encourage maths graduates to teach.

"Minister O'Keeffe is asleep at the wheel and has done little to address the problem. His much vaunted 'Project Maths' is under pressure. Only 20 schools around the country teach it. Students are avoiding maths in droves."

Only 16% of Leaving Cert students choose to sit higher level maths this year. This is down from 2008's already low level of 17% of students taking the paper.

Nearly two-thirds of students who sit higher level maths at Junior Cert level drop to ordinary level for the Leaving Cert, and because of recent cutbacks, honours maths classes have now been merged with ordinary-level maths classes.

"Maths is not just valuable in and of itself but it is of fundamental strategic importance in underpinning many other disciplines such as science, technology, engineering, business and finance," Mr Hayes said.

"It is integral to developing a 'smart economy', led by highly trained scientists, engineers and computer experts. Root and branch reform of maths teaching and learning is needed."

He added that a new approach to encourage students to opt for higher level maths and then choose science and technology courses at third level, was needed.