Two decades and many ministers later, the contentious Points system for allocating college places finally is being put under the microscope. The Minister for Education, Micheal Martin, has appointed Professoer Aine Hyland to chair a commission, representative of the partners in education, to review the system.

For E&L, Anne Byrne put put some questions to Professor Hyland

Aine Hyland, chairwoman of the commission on the points system, says that the partners in education, broadly speaking, are already represented on the commission. She is anxious to hear from the man and woman in the street.

Hand write a few sentences or type out a full report or put it on disk. If you get carried away and write more than 500 words, you are asked to send a summary (See the ad on page X for details). All submissions will be included in a report and put up on the commission's website.

E&L put some questions to Professor Hyland. Anne Byrne reports.

Why the need for a commission?

Almost 2,000 fewer students will begin cert and diploma courses this year, not because of lack of places, but because they refused them. The points race only affects certain degrees and a very few diplomas. More than 30 courses advertised vacant places this year. A number of courses are not running due to insufficient demand.

"The CAO is 20 years old. There hasn't been a national review of the system . . . People who are very worried about change should not worry about a review. I don't think one has to assume that there will be change because there is a review. But there are a number of areas that require investigating . . . There could be solutions in a small way to some of the issues people raise." In particular, she cites entry procedures for mature students, the new Leaving Certs and access for disadvantaged.

Is there a misunderstanding among young people? she asks. "Some people appear to fill in their forms in order of difficulty of courses. We have to find out why."

The present system is open, transparent and completely free from political or other interference. Measures such as interviews have been suggested but these are open to allegation of interference or subjectivity. Why not leave well alone?

"IT'S not a bad idea to revisit different approaches, even is the outcome is to stay the same." In some areas we have information and in others, we will have to carry out research, she says.

As to reintroducing interviews or aptitude tests, the experience of DCU (then the NIHE) which dropped aptitude tests and the experience of the colleges of education which dropped interviews could be very valuable.

Under the terms of reference, the commission will look at the effects of the points system on access to third level for students who have experienced significant educational disadvantage. Surely it would be more germane to tackle the educational disadvantage? And at an earlier stage?

"This is dealt with in a separate Government's proposal . . . I agree it's very late and that it's not the only place you can tackle disadvantage." She mentions Early Start, Breaking the Cycle, additional remedial teachers.

What about non-standard applicants?

"THE number of mature applicants has mushroomed in recent years partly because fees have been abolished and also because of greater awareness and schemes such as VTOS. Ironically, at a time when consciousness has been raised there is a relative shortage of places." At present, each college operates its own admissions process for mature students. Hyland suggests a coordinated approach might be useful. There is also the question of international comparability, she says, for instance, the way in which A levels are rated visa-vis the Leaving Cert.

Will the new Leaving Certs be included in the commission's review?

With the advent of the LCA and LCV, Hyland says she thinks it is well worth having an open debate about routes into higher education. "My own view is that no student should be precluded from going into third level at some stage in their life."

Was the February 1st closing date for submissions deliberately chosen to coincide with the CAO closing date?

"Yes, it will be in people's minds around that time. Young people and families will have gone through the process of filling out CAO forms...the initial views will help us to firm up our own thoughts for further consultation." There will be some public meetings once the submissions are in.

A final word from Professor Hyland: "We are very much aware that ultimately the question of selection is a matter for the individual institutions. Our role is in an advisory capacity to the Minister. We are not usurping the role of universities or higher education institutes in any way." What the commission wants to hear are the view of parents, teachers and students themselves. Hand write a few sentences, type a full report (or summary if more than 500 words) or send in a disk (see advertisment on Page 12). All submissions will be be included in a report and put on the commission's website.

The Commission on the Points System can be reached through the real or virtual postal systems . . . Website: www.irigov.ie/educ/comm/htm

commission@educ.irlgov.ie

Phone: (01) 809 5081

Fax: (01) 878 7177

Address: Department of Education and Science, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1