Dept knew of maths deficiencies since 1981

Press, 14 October 1986, Page 4

Dept knew of maths deficiencies since 1981

The Education Department has known for some time that New Zealand third-formers- and fourthformers do not do well in mathematics. The department’s acting assistant secretary for schools and development, Mr Arch Gilchrist, said yesterday that this had been made public in 1981. That was the year the preliminary report of the International Association for the Evaluation of Education was released. Mr Gilchrist said the department was concerned about the report’s findings, and had taken steps to remedy the problem. The mathematics syllabus was under review and problem areas were being given more emphasis. The department had

given priority to the appointment of mathematics advisers for secondary schools, said Mr Gilchrist. Each district senior inspector can appoint six advisers, covering all syllabus areas. He agreed with comments by Christchurch Teachers’ College council members that there was a shortage of properly qualified mathematics teachers. “That is a real source of concern not only here but in practically every Western country in the world,” he said. “There is no way we could alter that situation overnight. We have increased the quotas — we have done everything possible to attract the people in.” Reinstating salaries for trainees could help the

problem, but it was not the complete answer. Mr Gilchrist said. “There would still be people of the view that there are less stressful occupations where their quality of life could be more enjoyable.” Mr Gilchrist disagreed with a statement by the college’s principal, Dr Colin Knight, that part of the problem was that primary trainees did not now spend as much time learning mathematical skills. The time for mathematics training had not changed for several years, said Mr Gilchrist. The standard of mathematics in primary schools was very good, Mr Gilchrist said. It was only in Forms 3 and 4 that problems had been identified.