Maths to be compulsory for NSW students

Maths will be compulsory for all students up until Year 12 under a back-to-basics
overhaul of the NSW curriculum.

Gus McCubbing, AAP

news.com.auOctober 24, 20191:31pm

 Video
 Image

The NSW government will make maths compulsory for year 11 and 12 students
under a plan to ensure school graduates have key numeracy skills.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW government would begin
consultation with education stakeholders over how mathematics could be
incorporated from kindergarten to the end of the HSC.

“We promised to take the curriculum back to the basics and today we are taking
the first steps to deliver on that commitment by prioritising maths,” Ms Berejiklian
said in a statement on Thursday.

“My vision is for every child in NSW to have the necessary maths skills to succeed
in life, whether that’s managing home budgets or preparing them for the jobs of the
future in science, technology and engineering.”

Earlier this week an interim report into the NSW Curriculum Review was released,
which signalled the start of a major shake up to the NSW curriculum.

Maths will be compulsory in NSW under and overhaul of the NSW curriculum.
Picture: Hollie Adams/The AustralianSource:News Corp Australia

The state government on Tuesday released the interim curriculum review headed
by Professor Geoff Masters covering kindergarten to year 12.
It marks the first shake-up of the system in 30 years.

The report suggests reducing the amount of curriculum content so students can
develop in-depth subject knowledge and develop the skills to apply knowledge “in
the real world”.

This includes a sharper focus on maths, English and science.

It also proposes “flexible progression” for students through the public system,
which would involve using levels of attainment to organise syllabuses, so students
are recognised and challenged according to where they are on the learning scale.

Premier Berejiklian said the review’s emphasis on fundamentals aligned with the
government’s aim to give young people the tools they need to get ahead in life
after school.

“The NSW government strongly supports a back to basics approach,” she said in a
statement.

“Students need to have strong foundations in maths, English and science to be

prepared for the jobs of the future and for attaining lifelong skills.”

The interim report will be open for public consultation until December 13.