A LARGE majority of Dubbo senior students are making it harder for themselves to find jobs in science, engineering, and technology fields by choosing the easier maths subject at school.
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Recent analysis by the Mathematical Association of NSW showed the number of students studying the more challenging, calculus-based 2-unit mathematics fell 17 per cent during the past decade.
In the same period, enrolments in general mathematics rose 10 per cent.
Last year, about 17,000 HSC students undertook the harder 2-unit subject, while twice that number studied the easier, general subject.
In Dubbo high schools, 2-unit maths is even less popular.
Four times as many year 12s at the Dubbo Senior Campus chose the easier subject as chose the 2-unit maths.
At the Dubbo Christian School, more than three times as many chose general maths.
At St John's College Dubbo, it was almost six times as many.
Among year 11 and 12 students at Macquarie Anglican Grammar School (MAGS), slightly more studied general maths, but at many schools 2-unit enrolments drop off sharply from year 11 to year 12.
(The Daily Liberal was not able to clarify the break-down of MAGS students before publication.)
The head of maths at St John's College, Tom Polak, said students often chose general maths because it was easier and gave them better marks for their HSC.
"But at the same time, it limits their options at university," he said.
Mr Polak said many bridging courses at university for degrees such as engineering and accounting presumed a level of ability beyond that gained in general maths.
He did not believe the 2-unit examination should be made easier or scaled more generously when calculating tertiary admissions ranks.
"I don't think the courses should be watered down any more than they are now," he said.
"They've got to be taught by good maths teachers, and they are few and far between."
Last week Australia's chief scientist Ian Chubb said the decline in high level maths enrolments was of "national importance".
"As a nation, we need people in our community with a much higher level of mathematic and scientific literacy," he told an academic forum in Sydney.
Professor Chubb pointed to lower first year results across a range of subjects among students who did not undertake higher or intermediate level maths in school.
