THE DISPUTE about a controversial higher-level Leaving Cert maths paper is continuing – with Sinn Féin demanding an inquiry.
However, the State Exams Commission has defended the content of paper 2, and said only “a very limited” number of complaints were received.
The controversy arose after maths teacher Brendan Gildea described the exam as “one of the worst in the history of the State”.
He said he would struggle to complete some questions on the paper, which contained elements of the new Project Maths course.
Mr Gildea is a prominent critic of Project Maths, which will be rolled out to all second-level schools by 2014.
The Department of Education says the new “user-friendly” exam will help build student interest in the subject.
However, critics say maths is being “dumbed down”.
Sinn Féin education spokesman Seán Crowe said the commission and Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn must “seriously assess the criticism levelled at the exam and take steps to improve its content and fairness”.
“There has been a good deal of criticism of the exam with one teacher, Brendan Gildea, saying the majority of candidates he spoke to were devastated after sitting the test. This is a very worrying situation.”
Teachers, he said, had pointed out how parts of question seven, on statistics, were not on the syllabus and that the exam in no way assessed what candidates had learned.
Last night the State Exams Commission defended the exam, pointing to the welcome it received in most media commentary.
It said it would listen to feedback from experts in the subject but at this stage there was no evidence of “widespread concern”.
The new Project Maths course – and the additional 25 bonus CAO points for those earning a D3 or better in higher-level maths – has helped to increase student interest in the subject.
