Millions of people are struggling to understand their paychecks or calculate money in shops, campaigners have said. Being bad at maths should no longer be seen as a “badge of honor” or down to genetics, according to National Numeracy, a new organization which aims to challenge the nation’s negative view of the subject. Chris Humphries, chairman of the group, said that poor maths skills can affect an individual’s life, leaving them at a higher risk of being excluded from school or out of work. “Figures from a government survey, published last year, show that 17 million adults in England have basic maths skills that are, at best, the same as an 11-year-old,” he said. Speaking at the lounge of National Numeracy, Mr. Humphries said, “That’s a scary figure, because what it means is they often can’t calculate or give change.” Mike Ellicock, chief executive of National Numeracy, said: “We want to challenge this ‘I can’t do maths’ attitude that is prevalent in the UK,” adding that it was vital that all primary school teachers understand key maths concepts, as young children who fail to learn the basics will suffer later on.