Introduction

Mathematics is a coherent, consistent, and growing body of concepts which makes use of specific language and skills to model, analyse, and interpret the world. Mathematics provides a means of communication which is powerful, concise, and unambiguous.

As a human endeavour, mathematics involves creativity and imagination in the discovery of patterns of shape and number, the perceiving of relationships, the making of models, the interpretation of data, and the communication of emerging ideas and concepts.

The New Zealand Curriculum Framework includes mathematics as one of seven essential areas of learning. Mathematical understanding and skills contribute to people's sense of self-worth and ability to control aspects of their lives. Everyone needs to develop mathematical concepts and skills to help them understand and play a responsible role in our democratic society. Mathematics education aims to provide students with those skills and understandings.

The New Zealand Curriculum Framework also asserts the importance of eight essential sets of skills: communication skills; numeracy skills; information skills; problem-solving skills; self-management and competitive skills; social and co-operative skills; physical skills; work and study skills.

The need for people to be numerate, that is, to be able to calculate, estimate, and use measuring instruments, has always been identified as a key outcome for education. Mathematics education aims to contribute to the development of the broad range of numeracy skills.

In an increasingly technological age, the need for innovation, and problem-solving and decision-making skills, has been stressed in many reports on the necessary outcomes for education in New Zealand. Mathematics education provides the opportunity for students to develop these skills, and encourages them to become innovative and flexible problem solvers.

The ability to communicate findings and explanations, and the ability to work satisfactorily in team projects, have also been highlighted as important outcomes for education. Mathematics education provides many opportunities for students to develop communication skills and to participate in collaborative problem-solving situations, thereby contributing to the development of many social and co-operative skills.

Increasingly, information is communicated through the use of data graphics. The communication of information through graphics is particularly common in the mass media. It is important that people can draw sensible conclusions from charts, tables, and graphs of various kinds. At the same time, increasing numbers of occupations demand the ability to collect data, to understand and use information technology for the organisation and interpretation of data, and to present reports and summaries. Mathematics education gives young people the opportunity to develop information skills through learning and practising data handling and data interpretation.