Improving the goals of lower secondary school mathematics
The goal of mathematics instruction in lower secondary school is not just enabling students to solve given problems. As stated above, we need to seek a balance among helping students master fundamental and basic knowledge and skills; nurturing the abilities necessary for problem solving such as the ability to think, to make decisions, and to express; and developing the attitude to actively engage in the study of mathematics. To achieve this balance, the following three points of improvement were identified