The only guaranteed result of this year’s Leaving Cert exams will be the resumption of the debate on bonus points for Leaving Cert maths, Fine Gael Innovation & Research Spokesperson Deirdre Clune TD has predicted.

One guaranteed result of the 2010 Leaving Cert will be the resumption of the now annual debate on the future of maths and the need for the introduction of bonus points for higher level maths at Leaving Cert.

This is usually a very one-sided debate with expert groups, like the National Competitiveness Council and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, and enterprise and professional bodies like Engineer’s Ireland, calling for reform and the introduction of bonus points. On the other side, the Government turns a deaf ear to the debate and a blind eye to the problem.

One change since last year’s debate has been the publication of the Government’s Innovation Taskforce Report. This report not only listed the introduction of bonus points for maths at Leaving Cert level as a key recommendation, to promote the take-up of maths. But it also called for immediate action to have bonus points in place for the Leaving Cert in 2012. The Government has failed to take action.

The Innovation Taskforce has recognised that any introduction of bonus points for maths will have a two year delay. The Taskforce called for Government action to be taken within three months of the Report’s publication, so that students starting fifth year in 2010 could make an informed decision on maths for their Leaving Cert in 2012.

The Government’s decision to ignore the Taskforce’s demand for immediate action means that bonus points cannot now be introduced until the 2013 Leaving Cert at the earliest.

Fianna Fáil and the Greens are suffering from the paralysis of analysis. The Taoiseach and his Ministers refuse to take decisions, and continuously postpone action regardless of the negative consequences.

A new approach is needed to encourage more students to take up higher level maths for the Leaving Cert and then choose science and technology courses at third level. While initiatives like Project Maths are welcome, more radical and innovative action needs to be taken if the often promised Smart Economy is ever to become a reality. Providing bonus points for higher level maths would be a radical and innovative step.