Radical reform of maths at second-level - including changes in the Leaving Cert - has been approved by Minister for Education Mary Hanafin.
In a move designed to address the "crisis" in the subject, the Minister has endorsed a series of proposals from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, an advisory group. In a letter to the NCCA, Ms Hanafin gives broad approval for a series of measures including:
a new higher-level maths exam for those who intend to pursue careers in science, technology or engineering;
a greater emphasis on what Ms. Hanafin calls "problem-solving and on the demonstration of skills in unfamiliar contexts", and
a new framework to ensure a smooth transition in maths teaching and learning from primary to post-primary education.
Last year, more than 12 per cent - close to 4,500 students - failed ordinary-level maths. A further 5,000 took foundation-level maths, which is not recognised by many third-level colleges.
Fewer than one-in-five Leaving Cert students take higher-level maths and a further 11 per cent take the foundation-level exam. In contrast, some 60 per cent take higher-level English.
The Republic fails to make the top 10 OECD states in maths standards for average 15-year-olds.
Ms Hanafin has rejected NCCA proposals which could have seen the abolition of foundation-level maths, but she has asked the council for a discussion paper on foundation level and applied maths by the end of next month.
In her letter, she also expresses concern about a proposal for two ordinary-level courses at Leaving Cert level. She says an options arrangement within the exam might be explored "as an alternative that might be more feasible at school level".
In her letter she indicates her "broad approval" for the proposals. "I also believe that the structuring of Junior Certificate syllabuses around a common course, the emphasis on numeracy skills at both junior and senior cycle and the introduction of modern applications of mathematics will significantly enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics in our schools."
She expresses concern about proposals to retain just ordinary and higher level, "particularly in the context of encouraging maximum participation . . . The cohort of students for whom the current foundation level courses were developed requires particular consideration in this regard."
Ms Hanafin says it is "important that curriculum reform in mathematics does not result in a lowering of standards".
Last year, Department of Education inspectors expressed concern about a sharp decline in maths standards in the Leaving Cert at both honours and ordinary level. The chief inspector in the subject says there has been "a noticeable slippage over a relatively short period of time in the quality of work" being presented by higher-level candidates.
