University maths students 'lack fundamental skills'

Educational attainment: Poor school teaching leaves undergraduates struggling as toddler records IQ higher than Einstein's

JUDITH JUDD

Education Editor

Many university maths and science students lack basic mathematical skills because of bad teaching in schools, according to a report published yesterday.

A report by eminent mathematicians paints an alarming picture of declining maths standards over the past decade and challenges the official view that standards in public exams have been maintained.

It says students on university maths courses cannot carry out basic arithmetical and algebraic calculations and their ability to solve problems is getting worse. They have little idea that maths requires precision.

Modern approaches to teaching maths and the national curriculum's failure to define what should be taught are to blame, says the report from the London Mathematical Society, the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and the Royal Statistical Society.

A member of the working party, Dr Tony Gardner, said: "The existing curriculum was the result of an educational philosophy that said if some children found a subject hard it should be made easier for all.

"The result is that children don't do algebra or ratios or proofs any more. And when they get to university it is a bit late to start." The report says teachers are not to blame but that school inspectors have encouraged the decline in standards by suggesting that teachers should put less emphasis on basic skills and more on investigation and problem- solving.

The working group, chaired by Professor Geoffrey Howson, is convinced maths standards at GCSE have fallen. It says the mathematical knowledge needed to obtain top marks in GCSE does not match that needed to get a good grade in the old O-level additional maths.

The same was true at A-level. A decade ago 10 per cent of candidates got grade A compared with 25 per cent last year. Equally worrying was the proliferation of different maths syllabuses at A-level.

The group says the slide in standards has been accelerated by the Government's efforts to introduce market forces to education. It says it has "compelling evidence" that schools are moving their exam entries to what seem to be less demanding boards. It says standards are slipping as the boards compete to keep market shares, a charge denied by the boards.

The mathematicians call for a review of the maths curriculum and a government standing committee to be set up to examine maths education.