Bonus points for maths

Madam, – If the demand for college places always exceeds supply, then it does not take a mathematician to work out what is likely…

Madam, – If the demand for college places always exceeds supply, then it does not take a mathematician to work out what is likely to happen to points for all college course places if points granted for Leaving Cert maths are increased.

Awarding bonus points for maths is likely to raise points for all courses. This will skew the allocation of course places in favour of those sitting maths, regardless of the relevance or otherwise of maths to a particular course.

A more constructive proposal might be to invite or incentivise our maths graduates to visit our secondary schools. They could then advise students of the benefits that studying maths added to their career. – Yours, etc,

JOE DEEGAN,

Loreto Abbey,

Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.