Teaching maths - Homework for teachers

IT is difficult to understand why almost half of post-primary maths teachers do not have relevant maths qualifications. It is even more difficult to understand why that situation continues.

The consequences of this are plain enough; Only 16% of leaving cert students sit the higher-level paper, the lowest figure for any honours subject. This precludes the great majority of students from even considering a whole range of third level courses. The very courses, we are told, central to any economic recovery.

A University of Limerick study also found a link between students who take higher maths at leaving cert level and the qualifications of their teachers. Obviously, the better the qualifications the more students who take higher level maths.

The solution seems simple enough. Give the teachers a chance to get the relevant qualifications — in their own time — or replace them.