Retired mathematics teacher Gary Anderson said the state government needed to actively re-think how they were targeting and recruiting specialised teachers.

“We’ve got to be a bit more lateral … I’ve taught with quite a few [mature-aged teaching graduates] and the skill-sets they bring are quite astounding,” he said.

“Perhaps they can look at a fast-tracking process for getting people in to teach those pointier-end subjects such as maths and science.”

Mr Anderson, the mathematics curriculum teacher leader during the beginning of the extension school program, said not having enough teachers could require students pursuing high-level mathematics to move schools.

Advanced level 3 and 4 mathematics subjects, required for an ATAR score, are only offered at two colleges and a handful of state schools in the North.

The Mathematical Association of Tasmania has called for an “urgent” plan to address Tasmania’s declining numbers of expert mathematics teachers.

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In the North, only Launceston College and Newstead College offer advanced Level 4 mathematics subjects.

Level 3 mathematics is also offered at Port Dalrymple School, Scottsdale High School, St Helens District High School and St Mary’s District School.

Colleges often work with state high schools to provide subjects online, but Mr Anderson said it would take a highly dedicated student to tackle such complicated subjects remotely.

He said it it was more likely such students would be encouraged to move to a college.

“When you’ve got three students to want to do a level 3 maths subject, let alone a level 4 maths subject, it becomes increasingly difficult to populate that demand,” he said.

The Education Department offers a sponsored graduate certificate for experienced teachers to specialise into mathematics as one scheme to address shortages.