Revolutionary maths project imperilled by tight resources

LEAVING Certificate examiners are already marking the answer books of 1,800 students who sat the first papers last month in a revolutionary method of teaching maths.

Policy makers are talking up the way Project Maths will bring an unseen level of interest in the subject among teenagers, with a plan to double the proportion of school-leavers taking higher-level maths in the Leaving Certificate from the record low of about one-in-six of recent years.

But the revelation that efforts to improve access in primary schools to support for children who have real difficulties have been less than successful should provide a sharp reality bite for those who think all will soon be fixed in terms of future generations’ interests in all things mathematical.