Prospective primary teachers have to undertake studies in all eight subject areas that they will be expected to teach. In addition to the subjects they will teach, students also study educational psychology and general teaching methodologies. Within this crowded academic curriculum mathematics is allocated four hours per week throughout the year. A significant number of students who enrol in the primary course have a weak mathematics background. This weakness usually manifests itself as a dislike of the subject or a complete lack of self confidence.
Some students display both characteristics.
For 1997 two new staff will plan and teach the subject. He also makes it very clear that just providing access to computer hardware and software will not necessarily improve mathematics teaching. However it is the attitude of teachers, and society in general, to mathematics that Papert believes must change before school mathematics will change. Many of them have learned algorithms and facts without any associated understanding of the mathematical concepts involved. When they are in front of a class they reproduce both the content and the manner of their own learning.