UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce plans for all students in England to study maths up to the age of 18 in an effort to tackle innumeracy and to ensure.
That the UK rivals the best education systems in the world. He is expected to make the announcement in his first speech of the year, said a report by The Independent. He will use the speech to warn that the jobs of the future will require more analytical skills than before.
He will also point out that, unlike many other countries, just half of the students aged 16 to 19-year-old study maths. Sunak’s focus on numeracy is part of his vision to help create a better future for Britain.
Sunak’s plan for compulsory maths involves students taking some form of the subject alongside others. This will mean that maths to 18 will be provided through different routes rather than just A-levels (Advanced Level qualifications). A-Levels are a UK subject-based qualification for students aged 16 and above.
Sources from Sunak’s office revealed that in his speech Sunak will say, “This is personal for me. Every opportunity I’ve had in life began with the education I was so fortunate to receive. And it’s the single most important reason why I came into politics: to give every child the highest possible standard of education.”
He will also highlight the emergence of emphasis on analytics and statistics. “Right now, just half of all 16–19 year-olds study any maths at all. Yet in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, our children’s jobs will require more analytical skills than ever before. And letting our children out into the world without those skills is letting our children down.”
The policy would only apply to students in England and will likely not come about until after the next election. Opinion polls currently suggest that the Conservatives will lose to the Labour party.
Sunak’s focus on numeracy comes even as government figures show that about 8 million adults in England have the numeracy skills of primary schoolchildren.