Summing Up
‘LAST week, we reported on a survey in the Daily Express conducted to discover what the 19 EU member states think of Britain and its peoples.
|
| ‘If England score three goals and Portugal score two, what is the result? Show workings’ |
We were upset less about how we as nation are viewed as we were by the papers maths, which fell six short of the mark.
But the Express is not the only stupido in class. The Guardian says that we are in the grip of a national crisis in mathematics.
But dont worry because the Government wants to change things.
Having changed things so that even youngsters who achieve an A-grade at GCSE level are armed with poor mathematical skills, the Government now plans to change things so graduates are better equipped.
So Charles Clarke, the education secretary, will show hes learnt from his mistakes and those of a million teenagers by unveiling a new drive for better maths.
This will include closing a loophole in GCSE maths which allows poor students to get a decent grade – the three tiers of papers will be cut to two.
And, according to the Times, the other big idea is to pay maths teachers more money.
The cap on teachers salaries will be lifted for maths teachers, enabling them to earn as much as £60,000 a year.
Trainee maths teachers will also get more financial encouragement from the Government. Those training to be teachers in the less glamorous subjects will see their bursaries rise from £1,000 to £7,000 from September next year.
And newly qualified maths teacher will receive golden hellos from colleges and schools in the shape of a cheque for £4,000 to £5,000.
The one problem is that the new teachers will be drawn from the very group that have been educated under the old system and scored those largely discredited A-grades.
But its no problem Clarke and his minions cant fix…with the help of a calculator.’
Posted: 28th, June 2004 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
