Home economics, agricultural science and geography are the favourite subjects of repeat Leaving Certificate students hoping to gain access to Ireland's most prestigious college courses. The majority of students taking places on degree courses in medicine were repeat students, delegates at the Asti conference were told yesterday.
John Hurley, of Limerick South branch, called on the Department of Education and Science to "level the playing field" for all Leaving Cert students by changing the rule which allows repeat students to carry their results in English, Irish, maths and a foreign language forward.
"The evidence that repeat students have a great advantage is not just anecdotal," Mr Hurley told delegates. "Of the three hundred places available in medicine last year, only 140 went to first timers."
Mr Hurley also said that ASTI research identified subjects such as home economics, geography, economic history and agricultural science as "points friendly" favourites for repeat students.
Mr Hurley believes the option to carry over results means repeat students are "not doing the same Leaving Cert as all first timers". He said this was particularly unfair on those students who could not afford to do the exam twice and to attend expensive repeat courses.
Chris Cullinane seconded the motion to change the rules for repeat students, claiming that such students were driving up points and keeping first-time candidates out.
Phelim O'Doherty opposed the motion on the grounds that parents "have the right to use the school system to the best advantage of our children". His own children had both repeated the Leaving, he said.
Mr Hurley countered this by saying that his own daughter had gone to England to study medicine because she was 20 points short of a place here.
"She probably lost out to a repeat student, so it works both ways for parents," he said.
John Molloy, East Galway, said it was time for the department to face up to the fact that the Leaving Certificate was a competition, and that a fundamental element of competition is fair play.
One delegate pointed out that repeal of the system should not bother the Minister because "it won't cost anything".
The motion to repeal the repeat Leaving Certificate system was passed.
