EMPLOYERS GROUP Ibec has called for major reform of the Leaving Cert following yet another disappointing set of maths and science results from students this morning.
Tony Donohoe, head of education policy at Ibec, said the exam system is too reliant on rote learning. He stressed the need to adequately fund ongoing plans to reform the second-level maths curriculum to ensure that students develop the necessary skills to work in high-tech sectors.
“Business needs an education system that produces individuals who are adaptable, can think for themselves and have an appetite to learn,” Mr Donohoe said. “The current system fails to produce these skills.”
He also said the roll-out of Project Maths was a step in the right direction but that teaching quality is a “critical issue”.
A survey conducted by Engineers Ireland – and released yesterday – found that 64 per cent of Leaving Cert maths students would like maths class numbers to be halved to help them cope with the challenges of the subject. More than half of the students surveyed said their maths teachers needed extra training to teach the subject.
Out of the almost 52,000 students who sat Leaving Cert maths, just over 8,000 sat the higher-level paper this year. It is hoped that Project Maths will encourage more students to opt for the higher level.
While this year showed a marginally higher uptake of higher-level Project Maths, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn acknowledged that more work is needed to increase these numbers. “I am hopeful that the continued roll-out of Project Maths and also the 25 bonus points which will be introduced for next year’s Leaving Cert students will improve these figures,” he said. Congratulating students on their results, the Minister said: “All of you should be rightly proud of your achievements.”
President of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland Bernie Ruane also congratulated students on their results but expressed concern that moves to increase the pupil-teacher ratio will damage the subject areas the country should be looking to promote.
The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland echoed this sentiment, warning of the damage cuts to pupil-teacher ratios could do. “If the pupil-teacher ratio is targeted, schools will be forced to drop subjects,” said Brendan Broderick, association president. “The subjects most likely to be dropped include those which are vital to economic recovery.”
Mr Broderick also congratulated students on their results saying, “To take the Leaving Cert is an achievement in itself.”
General secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association Michael Moriarty urged students to keep the results in perspective. “More than anything else, young people need to get themselves into courses and careers that match their aptitudes to real job prospects,” Mr Moriarty said.
Meanwhile the Irish Second Level Students’ Union encouraged students to seek advice from parents and guidance counsellors over the coming days. A spokesperson said: “Leaving Cert results day is different for everyone. There will be people who are dying to find out how they did and people who’d rather hide under the bed. Whatever happens and however you did, it’ll be okay.”
The union also advised students to celebrate sensibly.