Why is math so hard to learn?

The latest standardized test scores show more than half of the grade nines in applied math flunked the test. The students in the more advanced academic stream are doing better.

But even the people in charge of the provincial tests say, this is a "call to action".

So why is math so difficult to learn?

Part 1

Part 2

Links mentioned on the program:

Edugains math site:
http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/math2/index.html
 
TIPS materials (grade 7 - 12):
http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/math2/tips.html
 
The Learning Consortium website:
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/lc/index.html