With the economy and the NHS in crisis, his priorities have drawn criticism
And though, yes, he did speak about those things with the outline for his top five targets for 2023 – promising to somehow halve NHS waiting times and inflation, as well as, worryingly, push ahead with plans to further legislate industrial action – one thing we didn’t need was the news he’s looking to make it compulsory, up until the age of 18, to study Maths.
School is a long way behind me, but I remember the soul crushing tedium of double period maths. So inept was I that before my year 9 SATs, and year 11 GCSEs, my mum hired a private maths tutor to ruin my Saturday mornings. In fact, I’m pretty sure the only time in my life I’ve ever cried real tears of happiness was when I finished my Maths GCSE and knew I’d never have to do it ever again in my entire life.
It’s my firm belief that you’re either a good student in English or Maths, and never, save for those unearthly overachievers, both Fifteen years after I put away a maths book for the last time, simple subtractions are well beyond me and I can. Two more years of mind-numbing drudgery wouldn’t have changed this; and anyway, it wasn’t true what our teachers told us in the early 00s – we DO always have a calculator to hand.
Against a backdrop of economic crisis, migrant rights violations and the ever-growing threat of climate catastrophe, Rishi prioritising the studying of maths in schools has seen him slammed on social media for being ‘out of touch’ – not least because, according to former Guardian editor Paul Johnson, the Tory government has slashed the recruitment target for Maths teachers by 39% since 2020.
‘One of the biggest changes in mindset we need in education today is to reimagine our approach to numeracy,’ he said. ‘Right now, just half of all 16-year-olds study any maths at all. Yet in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, our children's jobs will require more analytical skills than ever before.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rishi Sunak urged by medical association to recall parliament 'immediately' to discuss 'NHS crisis'Labour shadow health minister Rosena Allin-Khan earlier told Sky News she has been an emergency doctor for 17 years and this is the worst she has ever seen the National Health Service.
Read more »
Politics latest: Rishi Sunak accused of being 'detached from reality' on NHS after setting out agenda in major speechRishi Sunak delivers a speech laying out his priorities for the year ahead, with the prime minister also facing questions on the NHS, strikes and migration.
Read more »
Leeds NHS puts out warning over 'flu-like' virus spreadingAccording to the trust, local hospitals are experiencing 'significant' pressure with the illness
Read more »