Up to 60 mathematics teachers from Shanghai will be brought in to England to help raise mathematics standards in an exchange program to be organised by the Department of Education.

We have some brilliant maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai – and other Chinese cities – has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them.

Elizabeth Truss, Education Minister.

This follows her recent visit to China in search of why they do so well in mathematics. I posted about this here.

This is also some worry about mathematics education and attitudes in Wales. I posted about this recently here. With that, I have no idea is the Welsh Assembly will seek to do something similar with Welsh schools.

Is the problem with mathematics education that bad?

I will answer that with a quote…

78% of working-age adults have maths skills below the equivalent of a GCSE grade C – and that half only have the maths skills of a child leaving primary school.

Mike Ellicock, chief executive of National Numeracy

Oh dear…

Link
Shanghai teachers flown in for maths BBC News website

National Numeracy website