An 18-year-old maths student who sat her Leaving Cert last summer is among the 19 members of the new Commission on the Points System, which began its work yesterday.
The Minister for Education and Science, Mr Martin, said the commission would be "free and independent" in its review of the entry system to third-level colleges. He promised to act on its recommendations.
He said the points-based system "impacts on most Irish families at one time or another". It was vital that it should be "as transparent, impartial and efficient a system as it can possibly be".
The commission would also draw up an "implementation strategy" for its recommendations, including details of cost and timing, said Mr Martin. In its preliminary observations on the commission, the main secondary teachers' union, ASTI, said this element should be included in the commission's terms of reference.
The commission will examine the effects of the present fiercely-competitive points system on students' personal development; its impact on schools in terms of influencing subject choices, teaching methods and learning and assessment techniques; and its impact on the choice of third-level courses.
It will pay particular attention to the access to third-level of students who come from educationally-disadvantaged backgrounds and mature students. It will also study the systems of third-level entry in other countries.
The commission's chairwoman, Prof Aine Hyland, of University College Cork, said parents and other interested groups could make their views known through planned public meetings or through the Department. The commission's Website is at www.irlgov.ie/educ/comm/htm, and its e-mail address is commission@educ.irlgov.ie.
Prof Hyland hoped the commission's work would not take longer than 18 months. It would have to do research on why students misunderstand the Central Applications Office system - for example, why many put down the courses they are applying for in order of difficulty, as measured by points, rather than in order of preference.
She said it would also study how good the points system is as a "predictor" of future success at third level.
The Leaving Cert student on the commission will be Ms Grainne O'Malley, who took her exams at Sion Hill Secondary School, Blackrock, Dublin, last summer, obtaining 465 points. She is now studying her first choice course, maths, at Dublin City University.
She said yesterday she felt the present system was fair but could be improved so more students got the courses they wanted to take.
Other members of the commission are Dr Caroline Hussey, the UCD registrar; Mr Michael McGrath, of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities; Mr Tony Quinlan, registrar of Galway RTC; Dr Martin Newell, secretary of the Central Applications Office; Mr John Hurley, president of the ASTI; Mr Tony Deffely, of the TUI; Sister Marie Celine Clegg, president of the Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools; Mr John McKay, chief executive officer of Co Cavan VEC; Mr John White, of the National Parents Council (post-primary); Mr Colman Byrne, Union of Students in Ireland president; Mr Tony Kilduff, of IBEC; Ms Roisin Kelleher, president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors; Sister Teresa McCormack, of the Conference of Religious of Ireland; Mr Kevin Lewis, a guidance counsellor; Ms Margaret Walsh, vice-principal of Dominican College, Griffith Avenue, Dublin; Ms Maura Clancy, assistant chief inspector in the Department of Education; and Ms Mary Dineen, a teacher.