MINISTER FOR Education Batt O'Keeffe is unlikely to back a system of bonus points for maths, despite support from a Government expert group.
In a report published yesterday, the Government's Expert Skills Group sees bonus points as a key instrument in reviving maths.
However, the universities and the institutes of technology do not believe bonus points would boost take-up of science and related subjects at third level, according to a spokesman for the Minister yesterday.
He said curriculum reform such as the new Project Maths programme has more impact than points in this area.
Project Maths, designed to encourage better understanding and a more practical understanding of maths, is being piloted in 24 schools and will be introduced in all schools from 2010.
The spokesman said bonus points could also reinforce a perception that maths is a more difficult subject. "There is also no evidence that the existing courses where bonus points are applied - in University of Limerick and Dublin Institute of Technology - fare any better in terms of applicants. Three out of five of those who sit higher-level maths choose options other than science, engineering and technology courses," said the spokesman.
Maths is suffering from a decline in student interest, with only 17 per cent of students taking higher level in the Leaving Cert. This means a huge number of students are ineligible for many science and related courses at third level which require a minimum C3 grade.
The Expert Skills Group says bonus college entry points would compensate for the greater effort widely considered to be required for success in Leaving Cert higher-level maths.
Irish students currently rank 16th out of 30 OECD countries in maths. By contrast, Ireland is ranked in the top-three OECD countries for literacy standards.
Last night, Anne Heraty, chairperson of the Expert Skills Group, said employers have indicated the current level of our mathematical achievement is of serious concern.
"Boosting our maths skill levels is essential to realising opportunities for employment. Maths is a fundamental requirement for Ireland's development as a modern economy."
The Expert Skills Group has proposed a range of measures including:
Students could be allowed to take ordinary-level Leaving Cert Maths in their fifth year and then have the choice of taking higher-level later in their sixth year. This would mean that ordinary syllabus be a subset of the higher-level syllabus.
More time should be allocated to the development of maths competence in teacher training courses.
Primary and secondary-level maths teachers should be provided with additional professional development.
Greater co-ordination to ensure a smooth transition between maths learning at primary and second level.
The chief examiner in maths has also expressed concerns about the slippage in both the quality of work and capacity of candidates to engage with problems that were not routine.
CAO points for science, computer and engineering courses have tumbled in recent years.
Last year, students needed just more than 300 points to take science at UCD, compared to 465 for primary teaching and over 400 for most business courses.