The Points Commission will propose that the Leaving Certificate test a wider range of skills than the present academically-orientated exam, according to a draft of the commission's report.
It suggests that the innovative and non-academic Transition Year, currently taken after the Junior Certificate by around 40 per cent of students, should be taken by all students.
It also suggests a quota system to ensure that more students from disadvantaged backgrounds and more doing non-Leaving Certificate courses in the senior cycle go on to universities and third-level colleges. A quota for mature students is suggested.
The commission's final report will not be published until autumn, and commission sources emphasise that there is still considerable work to be done. However, the draft report suggests that teamwork, problem-solving and interpersonal skills which are assessed as part of the more practical Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational programmes should also become part of the mainstream Leaving Certificate.
It is not specific about how this should be done, except for suggesting the need for new "modes and techniques" of assessment. These could include externally-examined projects and portfolios, as is done for the Leaving Certificate Applied. Although the commission does not say this, they could also include teachers assessing their students, as is done in most European countries but which Irish secondary teachers are strongly against.
The commission is critical of the points system and has looked at alternative third-level selection systems like aptitude tests, random selection above a minimum entry level, interviews and UK-style school references. However, it has not come up with any replacement system.
It recommends the broadening of the senior cycle curriculum to allow for more recognition of areas like science and technology, social, political and environmental education, art and PE, religious and moral education, and guidance, counselling and pastoral care.
One suggestion is that some of these elements might not count directly for points purposes, but would become a requirement for entry to third-level education.
The draft report recommends more emphasis on alternative routes to third-level degree courses, via Post Leaving Certificate, certificate and diploma courses. It suggests the possible use of quotas for students who have reached degree course entry level via these routes, as well as quotas for mature students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In a section on technical improvements, the draft report also suggests the phasing out of bonus marks for answering in Irish and bonus points for some subjects like maths. It proposes disincentives for students who take the Leaving Certificate more than twice, with a sliding scale of points reductions depending on the number of times the exam is taken.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland has welcomed the draft report's support for a broader-based Leaving Certificate, greater recognition for extra-curricular activities and a wider-ranging assessment system.