Education Minister Rob Stokes is ‘furious’ that seven students at Coonamble High School have been taught the incorrect maths course
The state’s education minister is ‘furious’ that rural NSW high school has taught senior students the wrong maths lessons for the past eight months.
Year 11 and 12 students at Coonamble High School in the state’s central western plains have reportedly been taught the incorrect Mathematics General syllabus since the beginning of the year.
The school’s principal and a representative from the Department of Education met on Tuesday night to discuss a solution and reportedly advised students to do their best in the upcoming final exams.
Education Minister Rob Stokes is ‘furious’ that seven students at Coonamble High School were reportedly taught General Mathematics 2 after signing up for General Mathematics 1.
The General Mathematics 1 exam counts towards a student’s ATAR and is examined during the HSC in September, but General Mathematics 2 is not.
Students at Coonamble High School have reportedly been taught the incorrect maths lessons
Seven students were taught General Mathematics 2 after signing up for General Mathematics 1
This means that two Year 12 students have just eight weeks to cram for the HSC exam, according to the ABC.
The Australian reported that ‘utterly negligent’ mistake was not exposed until a distraught parent called The Ray Hadley Morning Show to complain about the ‘gross oversight’.
Families of the affected students met with faculty yesterday met with the area education director and the school principal, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The results from the Year 11 do not directly affect a student’s HSC or ATAR mark but the lessons provide a necessary foundation for the final year of schooling, AAP understands.
Students and parents alike were understandably furious when the school told them that they would have to cram almost a year’s worth of material into two months.
Pupils were reportedly advised by the school to study before and after class, and during holidays, for the next two months to catch up – which Minister Stokes slammed as ‘no acceptable’.
‘Another solution offered was that if they do not do well this year they can do it again next year — that’s clearly a laughable solution,’ he told Radio 2GB.
Mr Stokes said he has instructed a representative of the Education Standards Authority to visit Coonamble High School and find a solution to ensure the students are not disadvantaged.
It is now the responsibility of Education Secretary Mark Scott to ensure that the students receive a ‘fair outcome’.
‘I’ve made it clear that I want disciplinary matters looked into,’ he added.
Seven pupils taught the wrong maths were reportedly advised to study outside of class time
Rob Stokes has sent a representative of the Education Standards Authority to visit the school
‘My heart goes out to those students and their parents, I am angry on their behalf,’ Minister Stokes said.
He acknowledged that the seven students caught up in the wrong class were failed by the education system, and says that it needs to be made up to them.
‘Through some oversight they are not being taught what they are about to be examined on,’ Mr Stokes said. ‘If this was my child I would be furious.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Coonamble High School for comment.