The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, is set to press ahead with a radical overhaul of the Leaving Cert, as a major survey indicates widespread unease with the exam.
The result of the biggest ever on-line survey on the exam - conducted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) as part of a review of the Leaving Certificate - shows widespread dissatisfaction.
Only 22 per cent of respondents believe it uses a good range of assessment methods and only 32 per cent believe it helps to promote work-related skills in students. Over 800 responded to the poll - 30 per cent of them students, 28 per cent teachers.
The poll shows that while 88 per cent believe English should be taken by all Leaving Cert students, this figure drops to 38 per cent for Irish and 23 per cent for history. Almost 60 per cent think PE should be taken by all students and there is also strong support registered for courses in social, health and political education - and for media studies. In general, the poll shows that people would like to see the Leaving Cert incorporate some of the new assessment methods used during transition year and in the Leaving Cert Applied. Broadly, these stress the need for personal initiative and flair.
The Minister is awaiting firm proposals later this year from the NCCA on reforming the exam. But he has already signalled his support for major change. Essentially, this would see more continuous assessment, practical and project work.
The number taking the exam, which begins tomorrow, has increased by almost 1,000 to 57,722 this year. Of these, almost 5,000 are mature students and others who are not "traditional" school-leavers. Over 3,200 students are repeating the exam, about the same level as last year.
The new figures show an increase of over 1,000 in the numbers taking history; this renewed interest may have been sparked by the new, more contemporary course. The numbers taking all the science subjects - biology, physics and chemistry - have all increased by a small margin.
Ms Anne Looney, chief executive of the NCCA, said the council's survey reflects the authentic voice of parents, students, teachers and others.
The NCCA, which has already published a discussion paper on new options for the Leaving, is hosting a major public forum on the issue in September.
The NCCA survey also acknowledges that the Leaving Cert enjoys high levels of public support. But in an address to the NCCA earlier this year, Mr Dempsey said policymakers could not simply conclude that the Leaving Cert was fine because it enjoyed a strong level of public support.
Mr Dempsey has said that reform of the exam is one of the the biggest issues facing the education system.