Others called on the government to make maths a requirement for the Higher School Certificate,saying there has been a major drop in interest since NSW stopped forcing HSC students to study a maths or science subject in 2001.
Maths is compulsory to year 10. This move would extend mandatory classes to years 11 and 12,but there is no timeline yet,or explanation of what kind of maths classes non-HSC students would be required to take.
NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said forcing students to take on maths in the HSC was not on the agenda.
"Whilst we would like to see all HSC students study a form of maths in years 11 and 12 – this won’t involve forcing them to take maths as a unit of study for their HSC,nor will it necessarily count toward their ATAR,"she said on Wednesday.
This year almost a quarter of HSC candidates opted against maths. Many maths experts are worried about the declining interest and the drop in senior students taking on higher-level courses.
But the NSW Education Standards Authority is piloting a numeracy course for years 11 and 12 that focuses on numeracy skills involved in budgeting,shopping and account keeping.
Rachel Wilson,a senior lecturer in education at Sydney University,said compulsory maths to year 12 should be an"absolute goal",and described NSW's education system as an international peculiarity for failing to require it.