If nothing was done the cost to society would be astronomical , harming people s ability to distinguish facts from lies and fuelling irrational beliefs such as the anti-vax movement, Duggan said. With the power of social media now it s so easy for people to put semi-truths or false truths out there. And if we have lost the ability to be a little bit cynical and to question things then we re in deep trouble.
Duggan said she did not know why the MoE was not doing more to stop the decline.
Association of Primary Science Educators national coordinator Sandy Jackson said she would love to see science getting the attention and resources now going into maths.