Shawdesh Desk:

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce plans for all students in England to study maths up to the age of 18 in an effort to tackle innumeracy and to ensure that the UK rivals the best education systems in the world, India Today reported.

He is expected to make the announcement in his first speech of the year, said a report by The Independent. He will use the speech to warn that the jobs of the future will require more analytical skills than before.

He will also point out that, unlike many other countries, just half of the students aged 16 to 19-year-old study maths. Sunak’s focus on numeracy is part of his vision to help create a better future for Britain.

Sunak’s plan for compulsory maths involves students taking some form of the subject alongside others. This will mean that maths to 18 will be provided through different routes rather than just A-levels (Advanced Level qualifications). A-Levels are a UK subject-based qualification for students aged 16 and above.

The policy would only apply to students in England and will likely not come about until after the next election. Opinion polls currently suggest that the Conservatives will lose to the Labour party.

Sunak’s focus on numeracy comes even as government figures show that about 8 million adults in England have the numeracy skills of primary schoolchildren.