CYP Now - Prioritise early years investment over maths to 18, experts say

Education and numeracy experts told MPs that early years education must be prioritised over mandatory maths to age 18 during an evidence session held by the Common's education select committee.

Experts advise MPs on Sunak's proposals to make maths mandatory for all children up to age 18. Picture: Parliament TV

At the session on Tuesday (7 February), the committee questioned the practicalities of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent proposals for an education system where all pupils study a form of maths until the age of 18.

In a speech on 4 January, Sunak said he was “making numeracy a central objective of the education system”, saying it was “letting our children down” to let them enter the modern-day workforce without adequate maths and numeracy skills.

However, experts at the evidence session told MPs that this proposal in itself may not be a practical solution to address the current barriers preventing young people from enjoying numeracy and developing vital maths skills.

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