Does Rishi Sunak's maths calculation add up?
The Briefing Room
BBC
4.8 • 731 Ratings
🗓️ 20 April 2023
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Rishi Sunak says the UK has an 'anti maths mindset' and that low levels of numeracy are damaging the economy. Will studying maths until the age of 18 solve the problem?
David Aaronovitch talks to:
Branwen Jeffreys, the BBC's Education Editor Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Emma Lark, Associate Dean Ambition Institute leading the Master's in Expert Teaching Rob Eastaway, author and director of Maths Inspiration
Produced by: Kirsteen Knight, Claire Bowes and Ben Carter Edited by: Richard Vadon Sound engineer: Graham Puddifoot Production co-ordinator: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I'm David Aronovich. Welcome to the briefing room, the Metaversal Mind Chamber, |
| 0:04.5 | where you, me, the top experts and a big subject collide and then resolve for 28 minutes. |
| 0:12.2 | This week, Britons have an anti-maths mindset and it's holding the UK economy back, |
| 0:19.6 | says the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, |
| 0:22.5 | who's announced another maths review, this time aiming at involving kids in England, |
| 0:27.3 | studying maths up to the age of 18, whether they like it or not. |
| 0:32.1 | So is the problem what he says it is, and is the solution the one he proposes. |
| 0:41.4 | In a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, |
| 0:47.0 | letting our children out into that world without those skills is letting our children down. |
| 0:53.0 | So said Rishi Sunak in January. Earlier this week, he announced a plan |
| 0:58.3 | to tackle the UK's maths problem. That will start with yet another review to look at how the |
| 1:03.6 | subject is taught in schools. There was one in 2016, though the Prime Minister has already said |
| 1:08.8 | he wants all school pupils in England to study maths until they're 18. |
| 1:13.9 | So is the problem what he says it is? |
| 1:17.1 | And is the solution what he thinks it is? |
| 1:20.3 | Step inside the briefing room and together we'll find out. |
| 1:25.4 | To start with, I want to find out a bit more about what Rishi Sunak announced on Monday |
| 1:30.4 | and where it fits into the recent history of government initiatives on this subject. |
| 1:35.4 | Joining me in the briefing room is Bramwin Jeffries, the BBC's education editor. |
| 1:40.5 | Bramman, can you just remind us of the main points of what Rishi Sunak said on Monday? |
| 1:45.6 | In essence, in his speech, he made the case for maths being the main driver for improving our economic growth through education. |
| 1:55.6 | And he talked about a very wide range of industries, whether it's filmmaking or healthcare, or even our |
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