Madrid (EFE).- The replacement of mathematics teachers who retire in the coming years is expected to be “a major problem”, since these professionals are opting for other jobs, not so complex and with better remuneration than teaching.
This has been assured to EFE by the president of the Spanish Federation of Mathematics Teacher Societies (FESPM), Julio Rodríguez Taboada, on the occasion of School Mathematics Day, which is celebrated this Friday, May 12.
Despite this search for other jobs by mathematicians, Taboada believes that salaries are not the biggest problem for mathematics teachers, but rather the bureaucratic burden: “Many times changes are made without counting on teachers and new things appear unexpectedly.” excessively rushed.”
The “feeling of provisionality of any educational law” causes “exhaustion” among teachers, according to the president of the Federation, who explains that teachers do not receive the new regulations with enthusiasm because they never know how long they will last.
For this reason, he calls for a State Pact for education, which he qualifies as an “ineligible objective” for any ruler.
Even so, Taboada believes that the new educational laws “are on the right path” of seeking teaching based on processes and developing mathematical thinking, although he predicts that change in the system will be slow because it implies training, patience and pedagogy.
He warns that the job of a mathematics teacher is “much more complex than it was years ago”, as teachers must focus their work on educating people, make sure that no one is left behind, adapt to their context and try to make their subject matter relate to other areas.
In this sense, the FESP has prepared a workbook to disseminate the multiple applications of mathematics in all areas of life, that this course will be dedicated to the mathematics of volcanoes, a topic that was chosen before it took place the eruption of the La Palma volcano, says Taboada.
The president of the Federation highlights that each year a varied theme is sought, to demonstrate that mathematics helps to understand the world and is an important part of art, agriculture or music, not only of science.
In addition to the School Day, May 12 also marks the International Day of the Mathematician Woman, a date that aims to inspire girls and women mathematicians, when there still seems to be a dichotomy “between academic itineraries more linked to girls or boys”, laments Taboada.