Madam, – I too am concerned about mathematics standards within Irish secondary schools (Prof Ted Hurley, May 24th). It is an absolute shame that bright, young individuals are being denied the opportunity to excel in what is, essentially, a vital component of basic education.
All too often, mathematics teachers in higher level are lethargic and uninterested in their students’ abilities. Allowing their students to accept it is a difficult subject and encouraging them to drop to ordinary level to alleviate their own pressures should not be tolerated. Surely at a time when monetary concerns are so rife, the Government should be seeking to improve the abilities of future Irish employees to ensure that the embarrassment caused by a clear misjudgment of sums should not be experienced again. – Yours, etc,