NSW Scraps Mandatory Maths for Year 11 and 12 Students
The Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) has expressed their approval of the decision made by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), which signifies a notable shift in the state’s education system.
The IEUA, representing over 32,000 teachers and support staff in non-government schools, has welcomed NESA’s choice to continue offering mathematics as an elective subject for Years 11 and 12 students.
The previous intention of the NSW Berejiklian government to mandate math for all students in Years 11 and 12 starting in 2026 has now been reversed.
In a letter to schools, NESA clarified that mathematics will remain optional for senior students.
Carol Matthews, the Secretary of IEUA NSW/ACT branch, praised the decision as a logical response to the severe shortages of teachers in both metropolitan and regional areas of the state.
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The IEU has opposed compulsory mathematics since its proposal in 2019, with former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian stating that compulsory maths would align with the vision of equipping every child in NSW with essential math skills for success in financial management and future careers in STEM fields.
However, in many non-government schools, religious studies are already mandatory in Years 11 and 12, along with two units of English.
Thus, some argue that making mathematics a mandatory third course would significantly curtail students’ subject choices.
“The unintended consequence of restricting student subject options would result in reduced enrollment in various other subjects,” said Ms. Matthews.
“Compulsory maths would effectively make six out of the 10 study units compulsory in many non-government schools.”
Education Minister Prue Car noted that the former NSW government announced the decision in 2019 “without consultation” and took no steps towards implementation.
“At the same time, they oversaw a chronic teacher shortage across the state, particularly in mathematics,” she added.
NESA to Evaluate HSC Minimum Standard
She highlighted that the current Minns government prioritized “developing early interventions to ensure every student is supported in building essential numeracy skills before leaving school.”
Consequently, NESA will assess the HSC minimum standard in alignment with the implementation of kindergarten to year 12 mathematics syllabuses.
The HSC minimum standard, currently set at Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework, represents the proficiency level in reading, writing, and numeracy required for NSW students to obtain their Higher School Certificate (HSC).
The evaluation will propose strategies to aid teachers in addressing “potential learning gaps” earlier in students’ high school education.
NESA will provide recommendations in 2025.
NSW Teachers Now Nation’s Highest Paid
In addressing the teacher shortage, the NSW government declared that teachers commenced the new school year as “the highest paid in the country” following an unprecedented pay agreement reached in September of last year.
The new seven-step agreement offers entry-level salaries up to $95,490 for recent graduates and up to $145,985 annually for experienced teachers.
“Bringing permanent, well-paid teachers into our classrooms will yield long-term benefits in terms of academic achievements for our students,” stated Ms. Car.
He pointed out that the teacher shortage worsened over time as mathematics graduates were enticed into data science roles with starting salaries ranging from $100,000 to $200,000, far surpassing the former starting salary of $74,000 to $75,000 for graduate teachers in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia.
