Perhaps the curiculum has been watered down too much already, but as I recall, algebra started in Year 7 and Calculus in Year 8. Much of the more advanced materiel in Years 9-12 (including sciences) needs algebra and calculus as a foundation.
And what if a student is "streamed" so as not to study algebra/calculus but then decides that maths, science, economics, or medicine (and a few other courses of study) is the path they want to pursue at University?
Oh, and one of the heaviest users of algebra/calculus? The finance industry. Maybe be if they were a little better at it, we wouldn't have as many problems ...
I my school days, there was a stream called "maths for school leavers" aimed at practical skills - but even that relied on at least some algebra and calculus as a foundation, even if it wasn't expanded on any further. But the students who took that course ... well, they certainly weren't going to set the world on fire.
