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Australia's Maths Crisis Spurs Push for Evidence-Based Education Reform

Policymakers propose a 10-year strategy to improve teacher confidence and achieve 90% numeracy proficiency as select schools report success with explicit teaching methods.

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A graphic showing a calculator, maths symbols, a ruler and a hand holding a pen
A graphic showing a young boy and girl in front of a red circle and downward arrows

Overview

  • One in three Australian students fails to meet basic maths proficiency, with disadvantaged students lagging up to five years behind their peers.
  • A Grattan Institute survey found that 21% of primary school teachers lack confidence in teaching maths, particularly in upper primary years.
  • Decades of reliance on unproven, faddish teaching methods are identified as a key factor in the nation's underperformance in maths.
  • Schools using explicit, systematic, and evidence-based teaching methods report significant improvements in student performance and teacher confidence.
  • The Grattan Institute recommends a 10-year reform plan, including increased funding, master teacher roles, and early numeracy checks, to lift national numeracy proficiency to 90%.