This article talks about how British Math teachers rank 2nd lowest according to a study conducted by Plymouth University. Czech Republic was ranked the lowest.
An elementary school teacher in England requires only a C in Math GCSE to be qualified to teach, while secondary school teachers must have a degree in a math-related discipline. According to the article in the Daily Mail, most elementary school math teachers in Japan have a degree in mathematics.
The conclusions drawn by the Plymouth researchers point to improved training as the way forward. Raising the requirement for primary school teachers to at least a B in GCSE and making maths degrees and continuing career training a requirement for those wishing to teach at the secondary level are the necessary first steps. Tony McAleavy of the Plymouth Center says:
‘Teaching needs to become a respected profession in this country, on a par with the law and medicine, and then we will attract more able people.'
I agree that if the requirements are raised then Britain may not fall so low on the list. Having higher expectations and requiring that teachers are experts in the subjects they teach might make a big difference.
I almost wish there were global education standards that could be followed so that countries were not competing with one another around the world and that some countries were not lacking this or lacking that and that we were all on the same page.
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