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An economic think-tank is warning our economy will suffer unless changes are made to the way maths is taught. Maths scores have been declining for the past twenty years, relative to other OECD countries.
Earlier this year, in July, an Education Review Office report warned of slipping standards in the teaching of maths, with teacher capability a particular concern.
A new report from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, argues that students could learn better from specialist, or expert maths teachers.It also backs more traditional settings, rather than digital learning environments. There are also wider, systemic issues, affecting the learning of maths - changing schools too often, for instance, due to housing issues, is linked to lower achievement at school.
NZIER says students missing out on a maths education , have fewer opportunities to jobs with good earning potential and that New Zealand's economy needs good maths performers to improve tech capability in the workforce.
Kathryn speaks with Senior Economist at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Olivia Wills, and Associate Maths Professor at the University of Canterbury, and was on the recent Royal Society Expert Advisory Panel on refreshing the maths curriculum, Dr Rua Murray.
