Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

One of the objectives of the Department should be, first and foremost, to listen to teachers. Teachers have a deep understanding of how different students learn and what their needs are, and most polling of teachers in this circumstance shows that they are pretty much unanimously opposed to the Government's deletion of foundation level mathematics. A recent poll showed that 87% of teachers either disagree or strongly disagree with the Government's policy.

Removing foundation level mathematics is having a serious consequence on those who struggle with mathematics. We have seen the numbers who are failing ordinary mathematics rise from 5.2% in 2019 to 7.2% in 2022. This has a significant consequence for people.

Students are being forced to undertake examinations that they will not perform well in. This will have a terrible effect on their confidence and self-esteem and will kill their passion for mathematics. I would implore the Minister to listen to the teachers.

See this speech in context