Parents! We know what you’re thinking: ‘Maths Lit’ is the new Standard Grade Maths from when you were at school. We know you are totally against the “drop” because it will put your child in a box and limit their opportunities for future careers in Rocket Science.
However, Maths Literacy is not Standard Grade Maths.
What is Mathematics Literacy?
Instead of being a watered-down version of Maths Core or Pure Maths, Maths Lit is a unique offering. It focuses on things such as calculating income tax, calculating budgets and investments, interpreting statistics, working out loan repayments and interest, and other commonplace matters that relate to figures. It’s a more practical subject that relates to the real world on a day-to-day basis.
What is Mathematics Core or Pure Mathematics?
Here learners deal with theories and concepts that aren’t necessarily experienced in everyday life. This subject focuses on algebra, trigonometry, and basic calculus. It’s the type of mathematics that studies concepts, numbers, and shapes, and the relationships between them. The basis of the subject is to teach learners to think critically when problem-solving and use a lot of abstract thinking.
University and Careers with Maths Literacy
The bottom line is that whether you take Maths Core or Maths Lit, hard work and dedication are needed; there’s no ‘get out of jail free’ card here.
You may also think it’s too early for your Grade 9 child to decide what they want to do with the rest of their lives, which will determine the subjects they must choose for Grade 10. But the hard truth is that the subject choices your children make now could affect the opportunities they have in the future.
Universities, colleges, and other tertiary education institutions have certain Mathematics requirements for the courses and qualifications they offer. It’s a good idea to investigate this as you help your child choose between Mathematics Literacy and Pure/Core Maths. When it comes to pursuing a future in STEM-related fields, Pure/ Core Maths is a minimum requirement for acceptance into university courses.
Careers that require Pure / Core Maths:
- Medicine
- Engineering
- Economics and analytics
- Genetics
- Accounting
- Physics
- IT
If your child is more artistically or linguistically inclined, Mathematics Literacy could be the way to go. For further studies and qualifications in the arts and social sciences, Mathematics Literacy is a minimum requirement.
Careers that require Math Literacy:
- Advertising and marketing
- TV, radio, and film
- Teaching and academia
- Politics and Advocacy
- Writing and publishing
- Law
- And more
Do your research! Whether you spend time with your child researching different career fields and the minimum study requirements for these, or if you rely on a career counselor to unlock your child’s interests and passions, make sure that the subjects your child chooses for Grade 10 will help them study what they want to after school. You may also have to assess that what they want to study is realistic for them. If you need to, seek career guidance from a professional or psychologist.
If you want to do it yourself, then there are a few local career guidance questionnaires that can be found with an online search. At Trinityhouse Schools, we understand the importance of choosing the right subjects for each student’s career path.
Trinityhouse has partnered with
Yenza, a smart career platform that guides and develops individuals along a personalised pathway toward career success.
Yenza
Yenza offers built
assessments that use a data-driven, integrated approach to understand the whole individual to accurately guide them toward career success. The platform has a suite of E.Q and I.Q assessments for schools, universities, and corporations and provides students with personalized guidance and recommendations to help them decide on the best career path for themselves.
Over and above the career consideration, you need to consider the well-being of your child. If your child is battling with Pure / Core Maths, and getting bad grades, this can affect their overall point score in matric, not to mention their confidence. Children who are doing well in Maths Lit may not pursue the STEM careers they hoped for, but they will get better points for university exemption and may just be happier children overall.
At the end of the day, the decision is guided heavily by who your child is and what they want to do, so take the time to learn all the facts.
Mathematics: Literacy vs Pure and Technical Maths
What's the Difference Between Pure Math and Math Lit?
Mathematics Thought Leadership: Core maths vs maths literacy
Maths Subjects
Choosing Mathematical Literacy As a Subject
Trinityhouse has partnered with Yenza
