A committee commissioned by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies has recommended that mathematics be made a compulsory subject for students in years 11 and 12. The review argues that continuing maths education through to the end of year 12 will lead to better long-term outcomes for students and help address social inequality.

Data from 2022 revealed that 43% of ACT students performed below the National Proficient Standard in mathematical literacy and reasoning, according to a discussion paper published by the committee. The paper's authors noted that this deficiency contributes to wage inequalities between males and females in the labor market and leads to a shortage of workers with math-related skills amid growing demand.

Researchers also found that females were less likely to take up maths than males. The committee expressed concern that the current senior secondary system, which allows students to drop maths after year 11, could be reinforcing social inequality by enabling course selections based on personal interests rather than essential skills.

Canberra year 12 students Emma and Taylor both dropped maths after year 11 but indicated they would not have opposed continuing if it had been mandatory. Emma said she would have been "fine with it," and Taylor stated, "I don't think I would have been hard-pressed if they said that it was necessary."

The committee highlighted the importance of proficiency in key areas such as problem-solving, digital literacy, and financial literacy. They also referenced a 2024 paper emphasizing that detecting disinformation requires building media, digital, and information literacy to enable critical public participation in the information environment. Additionally, meta-analysis from 1972 to 2018 showed a consistent negative association between mathematics anxiety and achievement.

The ACT government is now urged to consider this recommendation to ensure students develop essential skills for future academic and professional success.

Sources