Ministry: No abolition of written division - Lower Saxony drops long division from primary schools in math reform
Long division will no longer be taught in primary schools across Lower Saxony. The subject has now moved to fifth grade as part of a wider reform in math education. Critics and supporters have already weighed in on the decision, which follows updated national standards.
The change comes after the 2022 national education standards for math, set by the KMK. These guidelines recommend delaying long division until secondary school. Five other federal states have already made similar adjustments to create unified teaching approaches across Germany.
Educators argue that long division is the most complex arithmetic operation for young learners. Introducing it too early could lead to students memorizing steps without truly understanding the process. Instead, primary schools will focus on building a strong foundation in division as sharing and grouping, alongside its connection to multiplication. Students will still practice key elements of long division in primary school but will fully master it later. Criticism has come from the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the Young Union, and the employers' association NiedersachsenMetall. However, math education expert Timo Leuders backs the reform, suggesting that children would benefit more from concentrating on semi-written division first. No other math experts supporting the reform in Lower Saxony have been publicly named so far.
The shift means primary school pupils will no longer tackle long division in full. The reform aims to deepen their understanding of basic division concepts before advancing to more complex methods. Schools will now follow this approach from the start of the next academic year.
Read also:
- Executive from significant German automobile corporation advocates for a truthful assessment of transition toward electric vehicles
- Crisis in a neighboring nation: immediate cheese withdrawal at Rewe & Co, resulting in two fatalities.
- United Kingdom Christians Voice Opposition to Assisted Dying Legislation
- Democrats are subtly dismantling the Affordable Care Act. Here's the breakdown
