Portuguese Mathematics Society warns students will arrive unprepared for university

Students who choose courses in fields related to science and technology will arrive at universities unprepared due to changes in secondary education curricula, warns the president of the Portuguese Society of Mathematics (SPM).

“The problem is secondary mathematics programs, which we believe will not prepare students well for higher education,” José Carlos Santos said in a statement to the Lusa news agency on International Mathematics Day today.

In retrospect of how the teaching of mathematics in Portugal has evolved, José Carlos Santos, who took office last year, began by noting that the country does not appear to be in a position to develop “a program that will remain stable for one or two generations.” .

The most recent amendment will come into force next year and aims to correct the current model defined in the mandate of former Education Minister Nuno Crato.

One of the principles that guided the new model of secondary education is mathematics for all and for citizens, and, among the main innovations, from 2024, students in grade 10 will have a similar first period of classes, regardless of whether they are engaged in science, humanities sciences. , art or professional courses.

The JMP has already voiced its opposition to the changes, and at the beginning of the year even accused the Ministry of Education of reducing the study of mathematics in secondary schools to “inexplicable historical lows”, citing “multiple and serious problems” in the conclusion. for important new learning.

“This program has sacrificed the logical unity of mathematics and the logical connections between different things. It’s more of a set of separate facts, and it’s easier to learn this way, the problem is that when a student goes to a science course, he’s not ready,” he insisted. José Carlos Santos, who is also a professor at the Faculty of Science at the University of Porto.

“And one of two things: either you study very poorly at the university, or, as an option, you will have to lower the bar at the university. Both are very sad,” he added.

The SPM president, on the other hand, is skeptical about the goals of the new programs, which aim to make students more comfortable with math. For José Carlos Santos, the result will be that students will gain less knowledge due to the illusion that they are better able to use mathematics in everyday life.

But this will not happen, the mathematician foresees, justifying this by saying that “Mathematics that has applications in real situations is too advanced for what is reasonably taught in secondary (education)”, and this is evident in the “highly artificial” problems that are usually . given to students at this stage in their school career.

In addition to the curriculum, SPM is concerned that it believes the changes make the programs more vague, making it difficult for students to evaluate them objectively and comparablely, and regrets that the scientific societies of mathematics and statistics have not been heard.

“It would be desirable – but I don’t see it happening – for learned societies and teacher associations to come together and agree on a major program,” he said.

International Mathematics Day is celebrated today with events organized by several higher education institutions and related to science. The Knowledge Pavilion in Lisbon will host meetings, debates and fairs throughout the day under the slogan “All hours count” in cooperation with SMP.

The Faculty of Science of the University of Lisbon has chosen the theme “Mathematics for All” and has scheduled lectures until Thursday for primary and secondary school students and teachers. The Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Nova de Lisboa is hosting a meeting of mathematicians this afternoon on the role of discipline in society.