Mathematical literacy is a subject that inspires a strong opinion among most South Africans. Since its introduction in the national senior certificate in 2006, it has received a lot of press, some good, some bad and some even derogatory.
Part of this poor perception of mathematical literacy revolves around a misunderstanding of the subject as a limited offshoot of mathematics.
This could not be further from the truth, as mathematical literacy represents a totally different subject to mathematics, although both involve quantitative skills.
The perception of mathematical literacy as the second-class, poor relative of mathematics must change; it needs evidence and good reason rather than defensiveness.
What sets mathematical literacy apart from mathematics as a completely different subject is how mathematics is used.Mathematical literacy does contain mathematical concepts, principles and knowledge. Most of this is at about the Grade 9 level.
Mathematical literacy is not maths for its own sake. Pupils can use it as a tool to solve difficult problems, all of which are authentic, relevant and commonly experienced in the lives of people in South Africa today - quantitative situations in the home, the workplace or society.
It might come as a surprise to many that in several other countries there is a subject very similar in content and purpose to our mathematical literacy.
In the US, it is taught at tertiary level as quantitative literacy or quantitative reasoning, while in Britain it is compulsory in high school, as functional mathematics.
A central difficulty mathematical literacy has encountered is that the name implies that it is a subset of mathematics, while in reality it is an entirely separate subject that engenders different skills in pupils.
Mathematics teaches primarily skills associated with abstract reasoning, while mathematical literacy deals with concrete operations and executive functioning - the ability to analyse and make decisions and justify choices.Mathematical literacy also requires a high level of communication, including reading, writing and comprehension skills.
While acknowledging that the complexity of mathematical literacy is not anywhere near the level of mathematics, the skills required to do well at mathematical literacy are essential to performing well in higher education in the humanities and social sciences.
A pupil who achieves an A for mathematical literacy can reason and think for themselves, read, comprehend and communicate well, and solve a range of real-life problems embedded in a variety of texts, tables or graphs - skills required in many higher education disciplines.
Apart from having value as a valid admission offering for higher education, mathematical literacy has intrinsic value in and of itself - a value that can be used every day long after matric, in the real world outside school.
How many waged people in South Africa understand what their net salary really represents? How many South Africans who borrow money actually know what rate of interest is being charged and in what period they will need to repay the interest?
Ignorance of these quantitative issues often results in injustice and suffering. Being able to understand and manage one's financial situation is an empowering experience and a protection from exploitation.
Mathematical literacy addresses ignorance of the quantitative issues practically affecting our daily lives, like income tax, debt management and the costs of doing building alterations.Will time show that the South African education system became a world leader by introducing a subject that is extremely relevant and increasingly necessary at secondary level before it was introduced in the rest of the world?
I certainly think so.
By virtue of the complete distinctiveness of mathematical literacy as a school subject, it would make sense to make it a subject that all do for matric, not only for pupils who do not take mathematics, especially as its usefulness and value in later life is without question.
In terms of educative value, it teaches essential skills that are transferable and applicable across the curriculums.
Mathematical literacy, properly taught, is an empowering subject for young people entering the workplace and life in general in the 21st century.
• Houston is the team leader for mathematical literacy at exam authority Umalusi..