Bonus points for Higher Level Leaving Cert Maths must be considered

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O’Keeffe’s refusal to acknowledge maths crisis is damaging economic future

Bonus points for higher level leaving cert maths must be considered in order to avoid a looming skills crisis which could damage Ireland’s long-term chance of economic recovery, Fine Gael Innovation Spokeswoman Deirdre Clune TD has warned.

Leading companies like Intel and groups including the American Chamber of Commerce have expressed concern about a developing skills deficit in Ireland in areas such as technology, computer science, electronic engineering and related areas.

Yet Education Minister O’Keeffe has told me that he is satisfied with the fact that Ireland is ranked in 16th place out of 30 OECD countries in the Programme for International Student Assessment. And he is happy that our 2006 performance is not unlike our 2006 performance. In effect, Minister O’Keeffe is welcoming under-achievement.

The current situation is stark:
· In 2007 only 17% of students sitting the leaving cert took higher level maths;
· Nearly two thirds of students who sit higher level maths at the Junior Cert level drop to ordinary level for the leaving cert.

Maths underpins many other disciplines such as science, technology, engineering, business & finance. A growing number of expert reports have stressed the importance of encouraging more students to study higher level maths at leaving cert level, and the need to introduce bonus points for maths. The crisis we face in the uptake of higher level maths at leaving cert level is now becoming a major economic problem.

Both the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the National Competitiveness Council have called for new measures to encourage more students to study higher levels maths. The EGFSN in particular called for bonus points for maths, and for a mechanism to allow fifth year students studying ordinary level maths to switch to higher level in sixth year

Minister O’Keeffe needs to start listening to the advice and establish a maths programme which will allow Ireland to compete at the highest level internationally and improve our standing in OECD assessments. Fine Gael Education Spokesman Brian Hayes has already called for this measure. The Minister’s refusal to accept the critical importance of mathematics for our economic recovery or the need for a focused and long term approach to the subject is yet another example of an underachieving Government out of its depth.

Deirdre CluneWhat did you think about this article? I would love to hear your opinion, please leave a comment below. Thank you!

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4 Responses to “Bonus points for Higher Level Leaving Cert Maths must be considered”

  1. killian mcguinness Says:

    mrs clune i am currentley studing higher level maths in fifth year and i believe the problem lies with inadequate and outdated teaching methods i think the current percieved lack of interest shown by students could be combated with the retraining of maths teachers. also i found in my school the higher level class were issued with a teacher who showed a lack of interest in the class bascially leaving us to our own devices as a result i had to seek outside help in the form of a grind teacher, while in contrast the two lower level classes were given teachers with a particular flare for maths in an attempt to average out the schools results, i hope this situation isnt being duplicated around the country. thank you for championing the plight of higher level maths in this country
    killian mcguinness 5th year higher level maths student

    May 17th, 2009 at 11:57 am
  2. Deirdre Clune Says:

    As a subject maths has not in recent years been given the attention it deserves at a Government level despite a number of high level reports that have highlighted the need for reform. As an engineer I have always had an interest in science and maths and the need to encourage people to take these subjects at Leaving Cert. If we are to be serious about rebuilding the economy and creating a knowledge based economy (a phrase often used by people who clearly do not understand it) we need to encourage the take up of maths and science.

    May 26th, 2009 at 10:25 am
  3. christina Says:

    I am a leaving cert higher maths student, sitting th e leaving cert next week. In my opinion there should be a system of additional points for higher maths, given to student, simply to compensate for the additional time and effort which honours maths requires. Higher maths requires signifantly more time and effort than “easier” subjects, yet the percentage of students acheiving A`s is considerably less than other students. Personally i am good at maths, put not of A1 standred, therefore it makes it a difficult choice for me to continue at higher maths , taking an obligatory two extra classes per week for two years , simply to finish the course, only to receive between 5-15 points more than I could have ahieved at ordinary level with little or no work.

    May 26th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
  4. Killian Smyth Says:

    Dear Mrs. Clune, I agree with the student above Killian Mcguinness, the situation he has outlined I would say is being duplicated around the country, this has happened in my school.Bonus points should have been given for Higher level maths, I too have had to take grinds.It is too late for me now as I am currently in the middle of my exams, however, you should keep going with this issue and pursue further info.It needs more focus, and then hopefully something will actually be done about it instead of more talk.
    Thank you,

    June 7th, 2009 at 6:35 pm

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