Hong Kong needs to pay more attention to maths education if it is to face up to the challenges of the future, a Harvard University mathematics professor says.
'Though mathematics education in Hong Kong has grown steadily in recent years, we are still lagging behind other Western countries,' Professor Yau Shing-tung said. 'Hong Kong has overwhelmingly emphasised business development and neglected the importance of science and technology.' The renowned scholar was invited by the Chinese University of Hong Kong to give a lecture on Mathematics in Hong Kong - Challenges in the 21st Century.
'Our government has to be far-sighted in education investment, to nurture more mathematics professionals to develop Hong Kong's higher technology industries,' Professor Yau said.
Mathematics education trained students to think logically and developed their analytical ability. These were essential for tackling the challenges of the next century, he said.
'Mathematics and geometry are a must for secondary education, but some schools attempt to drop the difficult parts and that has limited students' talent and ability to solve problems,' he said.
Parents should not neglect their children's interest in science by pushing them into business studies, the professor said.