Should people be expected to study maths until they are

18?

Following Rishi Sunak's recent comments, is he correct in arguing that maths should be prioritised?

Georgia McInnes

English Literature, Master's student

Once you get past the initial nightmare of being thrown back into your school years, struggling over algebra, one might think Rishi Sunak is doing something positive, with his comment that everyone should be expected to study maths until they are 18. However, following recent news surrounding the defunding of humanities and similar degrees, perhaps there is something more sinister going on here.

At the beginning of 2023, Primer Minister Rishi Sunak announced that he is considering a plan that maths does weave its way into our lives. Perhaps you work in a shop and need to count the correct amount of change, or maybe you are browsing a sale and need to gure out 20% of the original price. It is everywhere, but do we really need more years of maths? Why can’t the maths we are taught from the start of school be adapted to become more practical? Why can’t the curriculum teach us about taxes?

Critics have also pointed out that we simply do not have enough math teachers. The Association of School and College Leaders said that with the severe shortage of maths teachers - Sunak’s plan is currently unachievable. In 2021, it was recorded that there are 39,000 English teachers across state secondary schools in England, while there are only 35,771 maths teachers.

These statistics play into the types of jobs students get depending upon the degree they take. The highest paying jobs are given to those who studying STEM-based subjects like