High failure rates in maths and in the science subjects at ordinary level are the most striking feature of the Leaving Cert results published this morning. Some 12 per cent of ordinary level maths students failed the paper, while more than 4,600 students failed maths overall. Seán Flynn, Education Editor, reports
Results were also disappointing in science subjects, where 16 per cent failed ordinary level chemistry, 13 per cent failed biology and 9 per cent failed physics. The failure rate at higher level across the three science subjects averaged 7 per cent.
These results - and the relatively small number of students taking maths and science at higher level - will dismay Government and business leaders who have been working to increase the popularity of these subjects as they seek to meet demand in the hi-tech sector.
What is seen in education circles as the "crisis" facing maths and science has prompted the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) to demand the return of bonus CAO points for maths and a similar incentive for science subjects. The RIA, a group of venerable academics, says urgent action is needed to increase the supply of quality graduates in these disciplines.
The grades in higher level maths this year were broadly in line with previous years, despite complaints in June from students and teachers that Paper 2 was grossly unfair.
One student in the State secured nine A1 grades and six received eight A1 grades.
The number receiving their results this morning - just under 51,000 - is at historically low levels. Career experts say prospects are bright for the class of 2006.
Brian Mooney, former president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, said that, given the low number of students, CAO points levels will be down for many courses - particularly at ordinary degree and certificate level.
The CAO will publish its points requirements at 6am on Monday morning. It is estimated that more than 75 per cent of students will secure a place on one of their top three CAO courses.
This year, fewer than 2,000 students repeated the Leaving Cert, compared with almost four times that number a decade ago.
Mr Mooney said even students with disappointing results can progress successfully through the system using the post-Leaving Cert (PLC), certificate and ordinary degree route, without having to repeat the Leaving Cert exam.
CAO points are expected to be very high for medical and paramedical courses given the 7 per cent increase in the demand for places this year. Last year, students needed 570 points to have any chance of gaining a place in medicine.
But the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin is hoping the introduction of new graduate entry programmes, which begin next year, will help to lower the pressure on points. Yesterday, the Minister reminded Leaving Cert students that the new postgraduate medicine option will be available for them when they graduate in three or four years' time.
This year, the introduction of new curriculums in both history and geography helped to cut failure rates at higher level.
At higher level, the failure rate in history is down from 8 per cent to 4.6 per cent, and in geography it is down from 4.3 per cent to 1.8 per cent. Candidates taking Russian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish secured some very good results, with 75 per cent of those taking Russian at higher level securing an A1.