"A-level students should be paid for passing exams in science and maths, a report recommends.I can't really see the benefit in this. Yes you might have more people taking A-level maths and science, and presumably thus degrees in it, but doing it through appealing to the mercenary side of human nature by paying them to take it isn't a very good idea.
Action is needed to stop the fall in numbers studying those subjects, says the report for the Council for Industry and Higher Education...
The report... warns that businesses in the UK will face a shortage of qualified employees within the next few years unless government funding is found for the development of "Stem" subjects: science, technology, engineering, mathematics.
As well as offering financial incentives, there should be extra training for teachers because it was only through inspired teaching that pupils would be encouraged to continue with such subjects." (BBC)
It means that those who do it will more than likely be doing it for the money, rather than any interest in the subject itself, which whilst it might mean that on paper there are more people with maths and science qualifications in practice that increase will have less real benefit.
Certainly rather than offering money for just taking an A-level, offer money instead based on grades gained - £500 for an A, £400 for a B, £300 for a C etc. Of course you're still appealing to the mercenary nature of humans, but it is reliant on the effort and suitability for the subject as to how much they gain, which seems far more appropriate and useful to me.
