Rishi Sunak seeks to reverse Britain’s ‘anti-maths’ culture
- The prime minister wants the subject taught until students are adults, noting that the UK is one of the least numerate nations in the developed world
- He admitted, however, that there were not enough teachers, with critics pointing out that the government has been cutting recruitment targets
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to reverse an “anti-maths” culture and require the subject be taught in England until students are adults, though he acknowledged Monday there are not enough teachers to meet existing requirements.
Sunak said poor maths skills in adults were holding back the economy, and students without a solid foundation in mathematics would be left behind in the working world.
He said an “anti-maths mindset” had made Britain one of the least numerate nations in the developed world.
“We say things like: ‘Oh, maths, I can’t do that, it’s not for me’ – and everyone laughs,” Sunak said. “But we’d never make a joke like that about not being able to read.”
Critics pointed out that the government had cut its recruitment target for maths teachers by nearly 40 per cent since 2020 – and still failed to achieve those numbers.