Study: Use engineers to teach maths

TAX breaks should be introduced to help unemployed engineers train as maths teachers and help existing maths teachers upskill, according to a study.

The report on the teaching of maths and science at second level by Engineers Ireland made the suggestion as part of a raft of proposals that it says can raise the standard of maths among secondary school pupils.

The body is just one of many groups that have routinely expressed concern at the low level of students taking the subjects at higher level in the Leaving Certificate.

The report makes proposals to improve the national standard of maths and science among students at second level. These include:

* A ban on calculators at primary and junior cycle levels.

* Greater resourcing for Project Maths needed.

* Make science compulsory at Junior Cert level.

* Ensure that maths and science teachers are adequately qualified.

* Use information communications technology to teach and learn better.

* Use transition year to encourage maths and science.

* Boost the appreciation of science, engineering and technology amongst career guidance professionals.

* Tax breaks for teacher re-training.

Project Maths was launched in 2008 in response to the difficulties faced by students with the higher level standards and consistently high failure rates in ordinary level maths. It is currently being piloted in a number of schools.

The revised syllabus is set to be rolled out to all second level schools from autumn 2010, and examined for the Leaving Certificate from 2012, and in the Junior Certificate a year later.

The report was published as Engineers Ireland yesterday launched its Volunteer’s Day. This saw nearly 1,000 volunteer engineers working on maths puzzles and worksheets with more than 20,000 students around the country in an effort to improve understanding of the subject.

Director general of Engineers Ireland, John Power, thanked the huge contribution the volunteers made to the day and emphasised the key findings in report.

“There is clearly a widely held view that the ongoing problems across maths and the sciences in our education system are not helping Ireland.

“Our Task Force has undertaken a thorough review of the current framework and produced several key actions now necessary. These include greater resourcing of the Project Maths initiative, the requirement for teachers to have specific education qualifications in the area of maths and the sciences to teach these subjects, as well as tax breaks for teacher retraining,” he said.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland general secretary John White welcomed the report and supported the call by Engineers Ireland for further investment in maths in schools.

“Mathematical literacy is part of a full human education. In addition, a high standard of mathematical literacy in Ireland is fundamental to the development of Ireland’s smart economy,” he said.