A points system designed to reward students taking physics and chemistry at Leaving Cert should be developed by third-level colleges because of the crisis facing science subjects, according to school principals.
A points system designed to reward students taking physics and chemistry at Leaving Cert should be developed by third-level colleges because of the crisis facing science subjects, according to school principals. With only about 15 per cent of students taking these subjects at Leaving level, the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals says third-level institutions should reward students entering science, engineering and technology courses who have taken the physical sciences at school.
Mr Seán Ashe, a senior figure in the association and principal of Maynooth post-primary school, Co Kildare, said urgent action was required. Science courses in many schools were no longer viable because of the fall-off in student interest.
"The difficult exam papers and marking of physical science subjects at Leaving Cert was compounding the problem, but the colleges should acknowledge this by giving extra points to those willing to take on physical science subjects."
Yesterday, the association released the results of a survey on the status of science in more than 300 schools. It found that more than a quarter of secondary schools did not offer it as a core subject and a large majority said their laboratories needed refurbishment.
The principals say practical exams must be introduced to stimulate student interest. The survey forms part of their submission to the Government's Task Force on the Physical Sciences.