Not bad, but must try harder is probably how UK prime minister Rishi Sunak reads the country’s mathematics report card. Just half of England’s 16 to 19-year-olds study the subject at some level. And while competence in arithmetic is seen as a marker of academic rigour in a lot of countries, the English often wear their struggles with algebra, times tables and trigonometry as a badge of honour. To get more serious, Sunak last week called for maths education to be compulsory until 18 — which is what most developed nations already do. Indeed, a thorough grounding in mathematics is critical to equip today’s students for the future.Numerical dexterity is an essential skill for adult life. Everyday routines from managing budgets, bills and taxes through to dieting, fitness and timekeeping require an understanding of basic arithmetical concepts. Employment and salary outcomes are also closely linked to mathematical proficiency. Even beyond well-paid occupations with a direct requirement for higher-level numeracy skills, such as accountancy and engineering, most jobs require some ability to analyse data, assess trends and make measured decisions, for which a low level of numeracy is a poor starting point.
“不算太糟糕，但必须更加努力”很可能是英国首相里希•苏纳克(Rishi Sunak)看了英国年轻人数学成绩单之后的看法。在16至19岁的英格兰年轻人中，只有一半人在某个水平上学习这门学科。与此同时，尽管算术能力在许多国家被视为学术严谨的标志，但英格兰人经常把自己在代数、乘法表和三角学上的挣扎当作某种“荣誉徽章”。为了提高认真程度，苏纳克上周呼吁将强制数学教育延伸至18岁——多数发达国家早已这样做。的确，扎实的数学基础对于面向未来培养今天的中小学生至关重要。