Almost half of second level maths teachers are ‘out of field’
A survey by the National Centre for Excellence on Maths & Science Learning shows 48pc of post-primary maths teachers are not qualified in the subject.
The research was based on a survey of maths teachers and principals across the State and was written by Dr Máire Ní Riordáin and Dr Ailish Hannigan at the University of Limerick.
This is the most comprehensive study ever on maths teachers' qualifications in Ireland.
The main findings of the study include:
- 48pc of second-level school maths teachers don't have a proper qualification, and most of them have degrees in science or business studies.
- Younger and weaker students are most often taught by teachers without a maths qualification.
- A downward trend in the number of maths teachers with a proper qualification from 65pc among those aged over 35 to 40pc of those aged under 35.
"One reason for the poor quality of mathematics teaching is the high proportion of teachers of mathematics in post-primary schools that have no qualification in mathematics teaching," the report says.
"The negative impact of these teachers is accentuated by their concentrated deployment in the early years of junior cycle where students' attitude and abilities need to be nurtured."
Report co-author Dr Ailish Hannigan said they found a "significant divide between students who are taught by qualified mathematics teachers and those who are taught by out-of-field teachers of mathematics, with younger and weaker students most often taught by out-of-field teachers”.
Senior project officer Dr Maire Ni Riordain said it was important to establish effective mathematics teaching for all year groups in junior and senior cycles as this was a significant contributory factor in student success in mathematics at all levels.
Irish 15-year-olds rate only average internationally in terms of performance in maths and it is feared that poor maths standards could leave Irish school-leavers ill-prepared for a more technological global economy.
The report recommended that postgraduate qualifications in maths teaching be introduced for 'out-of-field' teachers. Three-quarters of the unqualified teachers said they would avail of this if it was provided.
Over half of the principals surveyed said it was difficult to find suitably qualified maths teachers.
Clive Byrne, director of the National Association for Principals and Deputy Principals, said qualified maths teachers were “scarce and very difficult to get” and it was “an issue of concern”.
However, he said that regulations introduced under the Teaching Council would help solve the problem over time.
Minister Batt O'Keeffe said a number of initiatives were underway to improve performance and drive more students into science, technology, engineering and maths courses.
He said that Project Maths, the new approach to teaching maths based on the practical application of the subject, would begin in all post-primary schools in September.
His department is also investing €5m this year in professional development for maths teachers, he said. As part of that, intensive courses are being developed for two groups of teachers - those who need extra support with the probability and statistics, and those for whom maths is not a major qualification in their degree.
Mr O'Keeffe has also set up a high-level group to report on how best to achieve the objectives of Project Maths and to increase take-up of maths at higher level in the Leaving Certificate.
Meanwhile, ASTI general secretary John White said the union would be happy to enter into discussion with Engineers Ireland on issues relating to the retraining of unemployed engineers as teachers. (Sources: Irish Independent, Irish Times and other)
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:00 pm
I have a number of queries in relation to this study: Is the research purely based on a survey of teachers and principals? Were these “out-of-field” teachers of Maths observed teaching in their classrooms? Were Maths degree-holder teachers observed? Were both groups compared? If they were not, then how can the report conclude that: “One reason for the poor quality of mathematics teaching is the high proportion of teachers of mathematics in post-primary schools that have no qualification in mathematics teaching”? Have DES inspection reports also come to this conclusion? If so, fine but if not, then it could be a case of making assumptions!
February 26th, 2010 at 9:09 am
I agreee with the last post.
I think we are missing the most important part of this article.
“ASTI general secretary John White said the union would be happy to enter into discussion with Engineers Ireland on issues relating to the retraining of unemployed engineers as teachers”
Sorry but doesnt that contradict the whole issue been raised here?
Yes engineers do alot of maths, but the issue is “out-of-field” degrees.
And lets be frank, the person who said science(!!!!) is an “out-o-field) degree to maths is a moron!
I am currently in 2nd year of my degree, Science Edcation, and my majors are physics and chemistry, but we also HAVE to do maths, just last semseter we covered project maths!
This survey is highly bias and worse of all contradicts itself!!
If you want in field maths degree students, dont look at the engineers, my suggestion is try the students WITH maths degrees.
Finally, John white saying he would be happy to retrain unemployed engineers, is a load!!!
If he proposes to do this in (Say) a year then what of the students like me who spend 4 years of their lives doing a degree in maths and science with a H.Dip?? We wont be able to get a job!
This is a perfect example of act first ask questions later. Anyway i think the fact that some teachers cannot ( for the life of them ) teach maths is more the issue rather than degrees, and lets face it, if you bring unemployed people into a field which they are not used to, the sitution is going to get worse.
look at the “politicians” Some of them have NO relation to what their doing, and yet we let them run our country.