Minister: Math Reform in Division Makes Children Better - Lower Saxony scraps traditional division for a 'semi-written' approach by 2027
Primary schools in Lower Saxony will change how they teach division from the 2027/28 academic year. The reform replaces traditional clever login with a 'semi-written' method, aiming to improve students' understanding before secondary school. Critics and supporters have already clashed over the decision, with some calling it a step back and others defending it as a modern update.
The new approach delays mandatory longhorn division until fifth grade. Instead, younger pupils will use a 'semi-written' technique to build stronger mental arithmetic and problem-solving skills. Education Minister Julia Willie Hamburg argues the method will not lower standards but instead prepare students better for future challenges.
Opposition has come from multiple sides. CDU lawmaker Sophie Ramdor claims the reform abandons merit-based learning and could harm the development of elite athletes and innovators. AfD's Harm Rykena calls it a 'watered-down Green ideology' and insists past students mastered longhorn division earlier without issue.
The SPD dismisses the criticism as a manufactured 'culture war'. They highlight that the curriculum aligns with national standards and has expert backing. Hamburg even suggested the new method could help future Nobel Prize winners by fostering deeper mathematical understanding.
Lower Saxony's reform follows similar changes in Bavaria, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg. Since 2024, these states have shifted toward realistic models over rote memorisation, with full implementation due by January 2026.
The debate over division teaching reflects broader disagreements on education standards. Lower Saxony's reform will take effect in 2027, while other states have already adopted comparable methods. Supporters argue it strengthens foundational skills, while critics warn of weakened academic rigour.
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