WITH data from the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) showing an increasing number of high school students ditching high-level maths subjects, Year 11 and 12 students at Trinity Anglican School (TAS) in Cairns are bucking the trend.
Currently, 100 per cent of TAS Year 11 and 12 students are studying a maths subject, which counts towards university admission/ATAR.
According to AMSI director Professor Tim Marchant, just 26.7 per cent of Year 12 students studied mathematics to at least an intermediate level in 2022, and only 9 per cent of students took the highest level maths.
Of that 9 per cent, two out of three students were boys, with only 6.4 per cent of Year 12 girls studying higher mathematics in 2022.
“These low enrolment levels will impact Australia’s capacity to meet future STEM workforce needs,” Professor Marchant said.
In response to an editorial published in The Australian newspaper on 29 April highlighting that students studying the highest level of mathematics have “plummeted” to a record low, TAS reports that the situation in Far North Queensland is not all doom and gloom.
42 per cent of Year 11 students and 37 per cent of Year 12 students are currently studying the highest level of maths available.
TAS Principal Paul Sjogren said that, given nationwide reports and concerns over declining numbers of students participating in maths classes, it is interesting to share how TAS is faring compared with the rest of Australia.
“Firstly, we’re proud to report an even gender distribution in our math classes, with 50 per cent of Year 11 girls and 40 per cent of Year 12 girls studying the highest-level maths,” Mr Sjogren said.
Notably, there are more girls than boys in specialist maths, highlighting our commitment to promoting gender equality in STEM education
TAS Principal Paul Sjogren
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing quality mathematics education for all students. We do this by fostering a supportive environment where every student can excel in our culture of learning.
“Thank you to our outstanding, dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and motivated students for making TAS a beacon of excellence in math education.”
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