Maths or no Maths? What happens in other countries

Director, Innovations and Practice, at Zizi Afrique Foundation Virginia Ngindiru shows Usawa Agenda Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Manyasa learning materials during Numeracy Stakeholders Forum hosted by The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) and Zizi Afrique Foundation at CEMASTEA, Karen, on February 05, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

A heated debate has erupted following the Kenyan government's proposal to drop Mathematics as a compulsory subject in senior secondary school.

While some argue that making it optional will benefit students who struggle with the subject, critics warn that Kenya risks falling behind globally, as Mathematics remains mandatory in many leading economies.

An analysis by The Standard shows that countries such as China, England, and South Africa require Mathematics throughout senior school, ensuring students maintain strong numerical skills essential for career development and national growth.

In China, students follow a structured curriculum similar to Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), with six years of elementary school, three years of junior secondary, and three years of senior secondary education.

Throughout this period, Mathematics remains compulsory alongside Chinese and English, ensuring that all students - whether pursuing sciences or humanities - develop strong numerical reasoning skills.

In England, Mathematics is a mandatory subject at the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) level - equivalent to senior secondary school in Kenya - alongside English and Science.

This policy ensures that students graduate with fundamental numeracy skills, regardless of their career choices.

In South Africa, students in Grades 10 to 12 must take either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy.

The latter is designed for students who do not intend to pursue Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers but still equips them with essential numeracy skills for daily life.

The model ensures that all students graduate with basic Mathematics proficiency even if they pursue career paths that do not necessarily rely on Mathematics as a core subject.

In the US, high school students must take at least three years of Mathematics.

While they can choose elective subjects, Mathematics is considered essential for college readiness and career development.

However, the US system allows students to only take one Mathematics topic selected from Algebra, Geometry, or Calculus, depending on their interests.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Education announced a proposal to make Mathematics optional in senior secondary school.

Under the new plan, students will only be required to take four compulsory subjects: English or Kenya Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning.

Beyond these, students will select three additional subjects from a pool of 38 electives.

The proposal has sparked public outrage, with critics arguing that eliminating Mathematics as a requirement with some observing that this could undermine Kenya's intellectual and economic development.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Education announced that senior secondary students would only be required to take four compulsory subjects: English or Kenya Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning.

Beyond these, students will select three additional subjects from a pool of 38 electives.

This means that the students will take seven subjects in total at senior secondary school.

The proposal has faced widespread criticism from legal, political, and academic figures, who argue that Mathematics is essential for critical thinking and economic progress.

A research published online by Cambridge University Press on March 14, 2022, by the Mathematics Education Research Group argues that a student requires some level of Mathematics all through their journey in school.

"Advances in research, theory, and practice in mathematics education are crucial at all educational levels," the journal reads.

Cambridge and Harvard University emphasise the importance of sustained mathematics education throughout a student's academic journey.

But that's not all research also shows that children should be exposed to mathematics as early as five years.

A research by two Harvard scholars, Meredith Rowe and Kathryn Leech discovered children exposure to Mathematics at an early stage gave them sharper grasp to the concepts in the subject.

Back home, Kenyans went online to air their discontent. Renowned lawyer Donald Kipkorir argued that the move was designed to weaken intellectual capacity.

Making it optional is an attempt to turn future generations into easy-to-manipulate illiterates," he cautioned.'

Consumer Federation of Kenya welcomed the change, arguing that Mathematics has been unnecessarily intimidating for many students.