Time to solve the maths skill deficit

AUSTRALIAN parents believe themselves ill-equipped to help their children complete high school mathematics.

This is despite the major role maths will play in the jobs of the future, new research has found.

The 2017 Westpac Numeracy Study found 25 per cent of parents would not be comfortable helping a child complete high school maths while 49 per cent worried their lack of maths skills would negatively affect their children.

The Lonergan Researchpowered survey of more than 1500 Australian adults and children also found those with a university level of maths education were more likely to be satisfied in their career and financial situation, plus earned about $30,000 a year more on average than those who only completed Year 10 maths.

Despite the financial benefits, participation in Year 12level mathematics has steadily declined in recent years.

A 2014 report in Teaching Science: The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association showed an 18 per cent decrease in enrolments in intermediate and advanced mathematics since 1992, despite a 16 per cent increase in the overall number of students attending Year 12.

Performance levels of Australian kids against other countries are also down, according to international benchmark studies such as Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study and the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment.

Westpac head of youth and millennial markets Ashley Gray said action was necessary.

“There has been a national conversation around importance of maths,” Gray said.

“The number of people not doing maths at HSC (Year 12) levels has trebled over the last 10 years.”

The Westpac study also found children with parents who are neutral or discouraging about maths are more likely to think they are not smart enough to do maths (49 per cent) or that it is too hard (63 per cent), compared with 20 per cent and 39 per cent respectively for children with encouraging parents.

“What came through was how important encouragement from parents was for kids’ performances in maths,” Mr Gray said. the Mr

The number of people not doing maths at HSC (Year 12) levels has trebled over the last 10 years