Is Compulsory Math after Year 11 the Right Step to Take?

Mathematics is the language of the universe. A solid grounding in mathematics makes it very simple to transition into another quantitative field, such as economics, physics or any of the other sciences. It keeps all doors open. The knowledge and capacity of solving mathematics create within us the ability to think creatively, solve problems critically and express ourselves properly, skills that are necessary for our daily lives. This appears to be the rationale behind Rishi Sunak's contentious new goal, which calls for all English students to continue studying math until they are 18 years old. It is true that everyone would benefit from higher numeracy levels in the population, not simply because of our increasingly data-driven economy. Nations benefit from increased numeracy. With our society becoming more and more quantitative, even a small increase in mathematical literacy can help us harness the power of numbers for ourselves.

While math skills are a valuable advantage for young people, they shouldn't be forced upon school students. Education aims at enhancing each individual's strengths. However, not all young people excel in math; some students are merely disinterested in pursuing it as a subject, while others may not even need it in the career line they want to pursue. 

Math is already one of the most popular A-level subjects, with thousands of students taking it up. Students are already becoming aware of how crucial having a solid working grasp of mathematics may be to their future possibilities. The best way to increase these numbers would undoubtedly be to show our students the value of math and the opportunities it can provide, as opposed to making them sit through a subject that many find boring and for that matter making it mandatory for post-secondary education. 

And students who have made up their minds about the fields they want to pursue, that do not require the knowledge of mathematics - such as the fine arts - need not take up math as a subject for their A-levels. In fact, making one subject compulsory limits students' ability to take other courses. This restricts their knowledge gained in that field at the school level. Given that students like to choose courses that complement one another, the humanities seem likely to even suffer enrollment disproportionality. The need to promote the arts and arts education in order to develop well-rounded individuals has never been more urgent.

The simplest approach to encourage students to learn math is to illustrate its importance and show them the prospects it can open up, rather than making it a requirement for post-secondary education. Coercion is never the answer. 

Bibliography 

Guardian News and Media. (2023, January 4). As a mathematician, I fear Rishi Sunak’s plan for compulsory maths doesn’t add up | kit yates. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/04/mathematician-rishi-sunak-compulsory-maths-students

Guardian News and Media. (2023a, January 3). Rishi Sunak to propose maths for all pupils up to age 18. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jan/03/rishi-sunak-to-propose-maths-for-all-pupils-up-to-age-18