Don't go back to basics, please

Doing sums. The Herald reports:

"A back-to-basics reform of Scotland's school maths exams is being prepared following widespread concern too many pupils lack problem solving skills.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is considering introducing more practical maths into a range of qualifications to address fears that young people are ill-equipped for university or work. As pupils prepare for their exams next month, the SQA has commissioned independent research to find out why candidates do not perform as well as they could in algebraic questions
in their Highers...
The moves follow a report by school inspectors last October, highlighting concerns over the teaching of maths and calling for more to be done to ensure all pupils reached appropriate levels of numeracy. Inspectors found that, all too often, pupils did not see the relevance of the maths they were being taught or the connection with everyday skills."

As one who suffered higher maths in the 1960s, I would urge the SQA not to go there. I mean, what was relevant or meaningful about trigonometry? And did anyone, ever, understand what calculus was all about? And did the ability to solve differential equations represent a significant addition to one's everyday skills?

And I passed (OK barely, but in those days a pass was a pass).