High school study in maths declining among prospective teachers

Maths and science participation among New South Wales HSC students has declined starkly over the past decade, which in turn is leading to fewer teachers with this crucial background for their work in schools, according to new research. University of Sydney researchers studied the maths and science combination choices made by students in the New South Wales HSC between 2001 and 2013 and published their findings in the International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education. Between 2001 and 2013 the proportion going on to study HSC without any maths tripled. This tripling was also the case in those receiving Initial Teacher Education (ITE) university offers during this time, with growing numbers studying no maths (4.8 to 15.6 percent), an increasing majority in general maths (55.1 to 64.5 per cent), and a halving of 2 unit (30.6 to 14.2 percent) and extension courses (9.5 to 5.46 percent). "Not only are we seeing declines in math and science participation among high school students in general; we are seeing a steeper decline among those students going on to study to be teachers," said Dr Rachel Wilson, who co-authored the report with Honorary Associate Professor John Mack. "This is particularly concerning because it sets up a vicious cycle in which there is less and less engagement with maths in schools." Australia sits apart from most of the developed world in that post-16 mathematics and science education is elective.