英国人算数太差，首相宣布：数学必须学到18岁！

刚开年，英国首相里希·苏纳克（Rishi Sunak）就宣布，计划要让英格兰学生学习数学，直到18岁。苏纳克称，此举是为了解决英格兰学生计算能力不足的问题，让他们更好适应职场。

Pupils in England will study maths up until the age of 18 under plans unveiled by Rishi Sunak. In his first major intervention on education since entering office, the UK prime minister will set out his aim to ensure young people are better equipped for the "jobs of the future".

UK remains one of the few countries in the world not to require children to study some form of maths up to the age of 18.

图源：CFP

Around eight million adults in England have the numeracy skills of primary school children, according to government figures. Currently only around half of 16 to 19 year-old study maths in some form. The problem is particularly acute for disadvantaged pupils, 60 percent of whom do not have basic maths skills at age 16.‍

2021年，英格兰公立中学有约3.5万名数学教师，少于英语老师和科学老师的人数。根据英国媒体报道，尽管数学教师的数量比十年前增加了9%，但仍然有很大缺口。一项对英格兰中学的调查发现，2021年，有45%的受访者表示，会使用非专业的数学教师。

In 2021, there were 35,771 maths teachers in state secondary schools in England. Maths teacher numbers are 9% higher than in 2012, but shortages have been reported across the country. A survey of secondary schools in England found that 45% of respondents used non-specialist teachers to deliver some maths lessons in 2021.

图源：CFP

British MPs and peers tasked with completing a year 6 SATs exam have scored lower results on average than the country’s 10-year-olds. Only 44 percent of the cross-party group of parliamentarians dubbed the Westminster Class of 2022 achieved the expected standard in maths.

"In a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, our children’s jobs will require more analytical skills than ever before," the prime minister said. "And letting our children out into the world without those skills, is letting them down."