Opposition parties have called on the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, to review the Leaving Cert maths and science syllabi as a matter of urgency following the high failure rates in these subjects, writes Olivia Kelly
"It is unacceptable that 14.5 per cent of all ordinary level maths candidates failed the exam," Fine Gael education spokeswoman Ms Olwyn Enright said.
"It is important that the reasons for this are investigated and that all students have the knowledge and skills required to achieve at least a pass mark," she added.
The failure rate at ordinary level sciences is also "seriously worrying," Ms Enright said.
She noted that Mr Dempsey is due to bring proposals to Government on an implementation strategy for the promotion of science, arising from the report by the task force on physical sciences.
"The consultation period for the report ends on September 1st. The Minister must ensure that the recommendations are implemented immediately after this date."
Labour education spokesman Mr Eamon Gilmore expressed concern for the economic impact of the maths and science down-turn.
"The rate of failure at mathematics and science subjects like physics are of considerable concern however at a time when the economy needs graduates with good scientific qualifications to meet the labour shortages in the science and technology sector," he said.
"According to the recent Task Force on the Physical Sciences, there appears to be consensus that science papers at Leaving Cert level are marked more harshly than other subjects. As part of his review of the syllabi of these courses, the Minister should also fast track the review of this anomaly in the marking of Leaving Cert papers," he said.
Educational disadvantage and poor resourcing of schools was contributing to the general lack of interest in science subjects, Mr Gilmore said.
"Greater investment in the teaching of science at primary school, the upgrading of all secondary school science laboratories, and a review of the teaching of mathematics and its links to science should all form part of the assessment of the teaching of science at second level," he said.