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The US President Donald Trump has ignited a fresh controversy involving Harvard University, alleging that the Ivy League school now teaches ‘remedial math’ — including basic arithmetic like ‘two plus two is four’. But according to a thorough fact-check by the Associated Press (AP), those claims are not only misleading — they’re false.During recent public remarks, Trump mocked Harvard for allegedly teaching first-grade-level math to incoming students. He portrayed the university as having fallen from academic rigor, saying students are now learning basics such as simple addition.The claim quickly circulated among conservative media and supporters, fueling renewed criticism of elite institutions and broader debates over declining academic standards.Here is the link to the YouTube video of President Trump accusing Harvard of teaching remedial Math:
What is actually happening at Harvard?
Harvard does not offer remedial math courses to its undergraduate students, according to the Associated Press. Instead, the university has introduced a revised version of its introductory calculus class — Mathematics MA5 — to help students who may have academic gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Far from being remedial, MA5 is a full college-level course that features the same lectures, problem sets, exams, and grading criteria as the university’s standard Mathematics MA class. The only difference is that MA5 includes smaller discussion sections and additional instructional support — a structure designed to help students, particularly those from under-resourced high schools, transition into the rigors of college math.
Who takes these courses?
Programs like MA5 and Harvard’s Rising Scholars and Emerging Scholars initiatives are aimed at students who are interested in STEM fields and may benefit from extra academic support — but they’re still expected to meet the university’s high standards.These offerings are not evidence of Harvard “lowering” the bar. In fact, AP notes that the university’s most recent freshman class scored a median of 790 (out of 800) on the math portion of the SAT. That’s hardly a remedial cohort.Additionally, AP clarifies that while Harvard Extension School — a separate entity for working adults — does offer a precalculus course, undergraduates at Harvard College are not eligible to take it.
Context behind Trump’s criticism
Trump’s remarks come against a backdrop of escalating tensions between his administration and Harvard University. During his second term, Trump and his administration have attempted to revoke Harvard’s certification to enroll international students and launched efforts to cancel roughly $100 million in federal contracts with the institution.These policy actions — and now, rhetorical attacks — have been widely interpreted as political retaliation, particularly given Harvard’s legal challenges to Trump-era immigration policies.As reported by the AP, educational experts and Harvard officials alike reject the notion that the university is offering basic math to its students. Rather, they view the expanded course options and academic support as necessary, particularly in the wake of pandemic-related learning disruptions.Trump’s claims about Harvard offering remedial math courses to teach “two plus two” are not grounded in reality. As the Associated Press concludes, the university continues to uphold its demanding academic standards while offering thoughtful, data-informed support to students who need it most.In an era when facts are often eclipsed by soundbites, it’s worth checking the math — and the facts.
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