AN idea to force year 11 and 12 students to study maths and science in their final school years has been criticised.
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It has been reported that federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne will raise the idea of compulsory science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in years 11 and 12 at an Education Council meeting on Friday.
The idea comes as the numbers of students focusing their studies in these areas declines, and Australia's international performance slips.
University of Tasmania maths associate professor Kim Beswick said forcing students to study maths was not an answer to the challenges faced in these areas.
She said it also might be difficult to find enough qualified teachers in these disciplines.
"It is possibly a good thing but I would rather maths was taught in such a way that kids wanted to study these subjects," she said.
"It does not get us off the hook of trying to teach it so students want to be studying it when they get to years 11 and 12 ... if it is not taught well we just reinforce the bad messages they might already have about maths." Tasmanian Association of State Schools Organisations president Jenny Eddington said making something compulsory was problematic but acknowledged that there could be some benefit from compulsory maths, but not science.
"Those who have got a strong humanities focus for their future would not really benefit from compulsory maths and science," Mrs Eddington said. "If they invest more in this area so they have really good courses and excellent teachers then you would get students naturally drifting into these areas anyway."