The trouble with maths.

Last year, over 12 per cent - close to 4,500 students - failed ordinary-level maths.

A further 5,000 took foundation-level maths, which is not recognised by many third-level colleges.

Fewer than one in five Leaving Cert students take higher-level maths, and a further 11 per cent take the foundation-level exam. In contrast, some 60 per cent take higher-level English.

The Republic fails to make the top 10 OECD states in maths standards for average 15-year-olds.

The Department of Education's chief inspector for maths said last week: "There has been a noticeable slippage over a relatively short period of time in the quality of work" being presented by higher-level candidates.

He says many students now taking ordinary-level maths should take the less-challenging foundation level.

Last month, a report compiled largely by maths teachers at third level complained that many higher-level maths students had little basic understanding of the subject.

The report acknowledges that many second-level teachers have themselves no "in-depth" understanding of the subject.

Leaving Cert students tend to struggle with maths problems that are "not of a routine and well-rehearsed type", according to the chief inspector.

At ordinary level in the Leaving Cert, the chief inspector says many candidates did not even attempt the required number of questions.

Many ordinary-level candidates have "inadequate understanding of mathematical concepts and an . . . inability to apply familiar techniques in anything but the most familiar of contexts and presentations".