According to the Guardian, this month all Year 4 students from 29 schools in the United Kingdom will undertake a multiplication assessment to gauge their aptitude levels.
Recently, it’s been widely reported that the British are not doing so well when it comes to Mathematics. Not only do British students perform poorly in the PISA test (Program for International Student Assessment), but even their former Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, became tongue-tied when asked “What are nine eights?”
To help their students bounce back, the British Department of Education has put enormous effort into the reform of math education. In 2015, a documentary titled Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School was filmed to probe into Chinese teaching styles, which consequently triggered a heated discussion. In 2017, the department also introduced the complete set of Shanghai mathematics textbooks into British schools.
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The education department has become determined to promote the Multiplication Table, a traditional approach to arithmetic practiced in China, in their primary schools. Pupils are required to master the skill before graduation.
This idea of a times table test first emerged back in 2015. However, it was postponed multiple times due to teachers’ opposition. “This will undoubtedly add to students’ pressure,” argues one of the teachers.
In total, there will be 7,250 students participating in the upcoming test. To eliminate teachers’ concern, the test is designed to last less than five minutes and the results will not be published.
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“The times table test will help teachers identify which students require extra support,” says Nick Gibb, the school standards minister. “By mastering the multiplication table, it will lay a solid foundation for mathematics for these kids who are about to enter secondary schools.”
Following this year’s trial run, the test will be optional in 2019 and from 2020 it will be mandatory for all Year 4 students in Britain.
