The National Youth Council wants a radical overhaul of the points system for college entry to bring in all-year assessment, interviews, quotas for disadvantaged students and a credit system for non-formal education.
In its submission to the Minister for Education's points commission, the youth council recommends that in addition to the Leaving Cert, a standardised method of continuous assessment should be developed. For entry to technical and vocational courses, specific skills should be measured rather than Leaving Cert points in academic subjects.
The council "strongly advocates the supply of an adequate number of places on third-level courses to meet demand." It wants entry to high-demand courses like medicine, law and communications to include an interview.
It says: "A straight `A' student does not necessarily make a good doctor - students should be examined on their competence, motivation and perceived vocation in relation to an area such as medicine." The interview process, it adds, should not be left to the discretion of the college.
It also proposes a pool of reserved places should be set aside for deprived students. According to the 1996 Clancy report, 500 such places throughout the State would constitute less than 2 per cent of the third-level intake.
It wants the introduction of a Finnish-style "credit system" to allow voluntary and youth workers to build up credits in youth work training, which can be credited towards national qualifications.
Finally, the NYCI says all such initiatives would be "completely pointless" if disadvantaged students could not afford to take up their places. The present maintenance grants were "totally inadequate and must be adjusted to reflect the actual costs of going to college."
In another submission, the Secondary Schools Principals' Association of Ireland says the points system had led to the transformation of an exam "designed to validate the education and the preparation of students for life" into a university entrance exam.
It had led to "a remarkable decline of commitment to extra-curricular activities", like PE, personal development and drama. Its "remorseless pressure" on students meant they were suffering unacceptable stress.
The SSPAI calls for more third-level places to meet demand; better access for mature students; a study of high-achieving Leaving Cert students to analyse their ability to sustain such a high-achievement level and to maintain their chosen career path; and an analysis of the Repeat Leaving.