The importance of Being in the Background

Have you ever seen a post on social media and been left utterly aghast at what you just read. I found the following infographic in a well known social media site and could not believe my eyes when it refers to reading, writing and mathematics as an "Out of focus Skills" which are less essential and not expected to increase in use while in the same breath refers to "AI and big data", "Analytical Thinking", "Technological Literacy" and "Systems Thinking" as being "Core Skills for 2030" which are "Core now and expected to increase in importance". Mathematicians have been teaching the underpinning skills that enable the analysis of data, whether big or small, for many years. How does one begin to analyse data without an awareness of statistical techniques? Analytical thinking, problem solving, system thinking, creative thinking... these are all part of the maths curriculum. While I think there are weaknesses in the...