Business groups say Rishi Sunak’s focus on maths is a “welcome” measure to close key “skill gaps” as Britain heads for growth, despite concerns about teacher shortages.
The Prime Minister has unveiled plans to transform the UK’s approach to mathematics education, including an expert advisory group, centers for mathematics and new primary teaching qualifications.
Technology and industry bodies applauded the former prime minister’s investment move, which he hopes will boost the economy, despite warnings about teacher numbers and a regressive curriculum.
“Founders regularly tell us that selecting people with the right technical skills is a critical challenge to growth,” said Camilla de Coverley-Vell, Ph.D. Coalition for the Digital Economy (COADIC)He said.
“We have to meet this challenge from different angles and at different stages in the talent pipeline – so this new focus is very welcome.”
While James Watkins, of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said he was “delighted” that the prime minister’s commitment to mathematics up to the age of 18 was still on the agenda.
More than 40 percent of large companies were more likely to have skill gaps in data processing, analysis and problem-solving, according to another LCCI survey.
“London desperately needs a skills system that works with businesses and learners alike, which is why we need to develop flexible and agile training programmes,” he added.
“Therefore, we are encouraged by the Prime Minister’s commitment to expanding the provision of mathematics, and the impact this has on closing skills gaps in the capital in particular.”
Alexandra Hall Chen, policy advisor at the Institute of Directors, also welcomed the ambition to boost the UK’s arithmetic rate, which is currently in the bottom half of the OECD’s skills ranking.
“Numerous skills are essential for success in the workplace,” she said. But Hall-Chen also stressed that teaching needs to focus on core workplace skills.
“Only by focusing on the practical numeracy skills employers are looking for, such as financial literacy and statistics, will the reforms have an impact on UK productivity.”
But Matthew Lish, of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), cautioned against “forcing uninterested students” to balance quadratic equations.
“Expanding compulsory mathematics education is not a silver bullet for economic growth,” he said. The UK has some of the best universities in the world, yet it has experienced stagnant growth over the past decade.
“Thriving requires creating the right institutional environment for entrepreneurship, not dictating the curriculum from above.”
There are not enough teachers
Bridget Phillipson, Labour’s shadow education secretary, called the policy “an empty, reheated undertaking”.
“The Tory government has repeatedly missed its target for new maths teachers, with maths attainment gaps widening and existing teachers left in droves,” she said.
NEU joint general secretary Marie Boustead said there were not enough teachers to deliver Sonak’s “commendable target” for mathematics to 18 for all English pupils.
“Nevertheless,” she said, “his ambition will be thwarted, unless he is confronted with the reality of education in England.”
“After 13 years in government, there are not enough teachers to deliver the prime minister’s vision.”
Speaking at the London Screen Academy today, Sunak accepted the accusation, telling pupils and teachers: “We do need, and we will need more, mathematics teachers. And we know that.”
In his speech, the Prime Minister said, “Economic growth is one of my five priorities.
“If we are going to grow our economy not just for the next two years, but for the next 20 years, we simply cannot allow poor arithmetic to cost our economy tens of billions of dollars annually or leave people twice as likely to be unemployed as those with efficient arithmetic.
“We have to radically change our education system so that it gives our youth the knowledge and skills they need and our businesses need to compete with the best in the world.”