Second Member of Leaving Certificate Maths Reform Group Resigns

Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabhain has become the second academic to leave the group working on Ireland’s revised Leaving Certificate mathematics courses, raising fresh questions about how the curriculum is being developed.

The associate professor of mathematics at Dublin City University said she resigned in June because the work was no longer something she could be part of. She said the draft curricula contained mathematical errors and inaccuracies, would not convey how enjoyable mathematics could be, and would not adequately prepare students for further study.

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I was hopeful that a review of the curriculum would be evidence-based, would interrogate what has or hasn't worked well so far, and would explore what mathematical skills students might need in ten years time where there are multiple global challenges to contend with in a data-drive and AI-integrated world.

Professor Pauline Mellon resigned from the group in January, citing similar concerns. Work on the curriculum review began almost two years ago, and draft specifications have already been published.

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Unfortunately, conversations were limited to simply removing content and shoe-horning assessments into a format that does not make sense.

Ní Shúilleabhain said she had expected an evidence-based review that would examine what had worked and what had not, while considering the mathematical skills students might need in a decade shaped by global challenges, data and artificial intelligence. Instead, she said, discussions focused on removing content and fitting assessments into a format that did not make sense.

“As the second person to resign from this group, I believe there are fundamental structural issues in how we design, plan and implement the policy documents that are our national post-primary curricula in Ireland,” she said.

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As the second person to resign from this group, I believe there are fundamental structural issues in how we design, plan and implement the policy documents that are our national post-primary curricula in Ireland.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment said the draft proposals were published to allow teachers and others in education to assess them. It said public engagement would take place in the coming months, with feedback used to make the final specifications clear, rigorous, inclusive and practical to implement.

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to shape the next stage of work and ensure the final mathematics specifications are clear, rigorous, inclusive and practical to implement