Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

Like Senator Moran and others I note the report from the National Competitiveness Council which has raised serious concerns about maths in our schools. According to the report, Irish students lag well behind students in other developed nations highlighting concerns about the country's future competitiveness. The National Competitiveness Council blames uninspiring teachers - I may have been one of them myself - a lack of application and the CEO points system. The report makes a number of recommendations, including new targets for the number of students sitting higher level maths in the leaving certificate. Speaking on RTE's "Morning Ireland" Dr. Seán McDonagh stated maths is important and is key to Ireland's future competitiveness. I would like to raise another issue in this matter, and that is parents. While parents can help their children with English, history and other subjects, they do not seem to have the same facility with maths, particularly as the teaching of maths has changed. The Leader has stated the Minister for Education and Skills will come to the House shortly. I suggest to the Leader that the Minister considers a series of programmes on RTE, similar to "Buntús Cainte" years ago but geared towards parents and children on the teaching and learning of maths. We must use the new media to communicate to parents so we can involve and commit them to joining their children and teachers in a renaissance of maths in schools.