Sir, – Project Maths is not the problem. The “dumbing down” of maths was happening well before the launch of Project Maths. Questions were appearing on the Leaving Cert higher paper in 2008/2009 that would have appeared 15 years prior to it on the ordinary paper.
We must not forget why Project Maths was introduced in the first place. Students were learning a set of techniques to answer questions, would get the desired results and not have a notion what they were doing from a mathematical point of view. Where was the merit in that?
Engineers Ireland was concerned well before Project Maths came into being at the extent to which “rote learning” was a teaching mechanism at second level for mathematical subjects rather than “learning by understanding”.
At least Project Maths is trying to address that, to a point, and bring about an appreciation and understanding of basic mathematical concepts.
The additional 25 points for maths is attracting students who should not perhaps be doing the subject in the first place. That should be looked at.
There have been drastic cuts in career guidance at second level and serious cuts at third level, where assistant lecturers and lecturers have to cope with increasing numbers of students on a shoestring budget.
These are things that need to be addressed to reduce the dropout rate after first year in the various colleges and universities. – Yours, etc,
ANDREW WOODS,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.