Maths Students Ill-Prepared, Lecturers Claim

By KEVIN SCHOFIELD EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT

SCHOOLS are failing to prepare maths students for university degree courses, lecturers say.

Even pupils with a good Higher pass lack basic techniques in areas such as algebra and logical thought.

The issue is to be debated today at the Scottish Mathematics Council’s annual conference in Stirling.

Ian Anderson, the organisation’s chairman, said lecturers were increasingly concerned. He explained: “Universities cannot assume students have a good grasp of Higher-level maths, even though they come to us with as much as a B pass.”

Dr Anderson, who is a maths lecturer at Glasgow University, added: “The problem does not lie with the breadth of syllabus covered. We can easily overcome gaps in knowledge.

“What is more difficult is the lack of skills in basic techniques such as algebra, and the ability to think logically.

“The pendulum has swung in favour of teaching pupils to be able to express themselves, and away from instilling the precision and rigour required in numeracy and literacy skills.”

Dr Anderson’s comments follow calls last year by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) for changes to the way maths is taught in Scotland.

It said “too many pupils are making little progress” between primary seven and the second year of high school, while nearly one in three left primary school without having reached the expected level in maths.

Fewer than two out of three had reached the required level by the end of second year and about 6 per cent had not gained a basic maths qualification by the time they left school.

The report also confirmed that employers and university lecturers continued “to express concern about the mathematical abilities of young people”.

Graham Donaldson, HMIe’s chief inspector, said: “We need to establish much more robust means of developing numeracy as a core skill for all pupils.”

A spokeswoman for the Executive

said: “From the very outset we want to ensure that pupils are getting a sound basis of literacy and numeracy that they can build on. We’re seeing literacy and numeracy levels steadily improving year on year in primary schools.”