BUNSEN burners are set to flame brightly if Christopher Pyne has his way with a science and mathematics push by the federal Education Minister.
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Mr Pyne is set to meet with his state counterparts this Friday, armed with a controversial proposal to make maths and science compulsory for year 11 and 12 students.
A confidential agenda item, prepared for the Education Council Meeting, raises concerns that the numbers of students studying maths, science, engineering and technology subjects in their final years of high school has declined markedly.
Leading scientists argue that less high school students studying in the mathematics and scientific fields has led to a decline in the number of undergraduates in those particular disciplines at university.
A shrinking pool of talent emanating from tertiary institutions would impact on the research and development sector and Australia’s “innovation economy”.
Sure, increasing the number of science graduates is important. But should 17 and 18-year-olds be forced to study subjects that have no bearing on their eventual career?
The state’s Education Department presently compels high school students to study English, mathematics, science, history and geography, physical education as well as a language other than English up until year 10. Then English classes alone are compulsory for the final two years of high school.
However, universities require potential undergraduates to study complex mathematics or science if they seek to apply for tertiary courses such as engineering and medicine.
Likewise, students looking towards a career in law, commerce or social sciences would be more likely to study humanities subjects prior to their final exams.
By year 11, high school students have enjoyed a broad education and should be given some leeway to decide what they want to study in their final two years.
Teacher lobby groups have already identified the problem of forcing disinterested students to study subjects that they’re not engaged in.
If Mr Pyne’s proposal were an algebra equation, it wouldn’t add up.