Minister concerned at course drop-out rates

MINISTER FOR Education and Science Batt O’Keeffe has expressed renewed concern about the large number of university students dropping out of science and technology courses.

“We are trying to bring in a far more practical aspect to the sciences and technology,” he said, adding that innovations were already under way in the maths curriculum.

“I think everywhere it’s seen that where there is practical application there is therefore better application from the students themselves, leading to a better understanding and knowledge of the subject and into the job situation – they are far better equipped.”

He was speaking after The Irish Times reported on figures yesterday showing a drop-out rate at UCD in science and technology courses of 26 per cent, and at DCU of 39 per cent.

Speaking of the changes to the maths curriculum, Mr O’Keeffe said: “We are introducing project maths and that will be based on understanding mathematical concepts.

“We are providing a training service for teachers. There’s a pilot project ongoing and we are hoping to roll it out among all the other schools next year.

“We are hoping that will have a decisive effect on the attitude and indeed the commitment of students to those subjects.”

The Government was committed to a knowledge-based economy, he continued.

“We’ll continue to invest significant funds in education over the next number of years. Obviously financially it’s a difficult time, but at the end of the day I think we want to ensure that the outputs from education remain at the high standards that they are at the present time.

“Parents and students out there have no fear but that the Department of Education remains committed to their ongoing opportunities for jobs in this economy.”

He said growth was predicted in the economy by 2011.

“Leaving Cert students obviously will embark on a degree course. Trying to attain the employment levels that we had previously is going to be difficult, but as a Government we are obviously committed to the knowledge economy.

“We feel in technology there will be outstanding opportunities for employment for young people in Ireland.”

Engineers Ireland, the professional members’ body for all qualified engineers in Ireland, said students should appreciate “emerging engineering job opportunities” when deciding on course options.

The group’s director general John Power said: “We clearly need to focus on the teaching of maths and science, incentivise these teachers and do whatever it takes to improve the standard of teaching in these subjects in second level, but students should appreciate the growing opportunities.

“While many sectors are heavily hit by the downturn, there are still jobs in sectors of engineering and science.”

Mr O’Keeffe also said yesterday that the projected fall in the number of teachers over the coming year represented an “opportunity” to get rid of unqualified people teaching in classrooms.

Speaking to media in Dublin yesterday, the Minister again criticised assertions by the Teachers Union of Ireland that as many as 3,500 teaching posts would go at second level.

The TUI made the claim on the basis of the Department’s own initial figures, published last week on its website.

He said the TUI’s claims would only worry parents and said he had “no fear” of being proved wrong by the union.

The likely number of losses would be 250 and the TUI’s claims were based on “interim” figures.

He said no teacher who was on a permanent contract would lose their job.

The TUI has pointed out, however, some teachers will be redeployed to other schools.

“What I am saying to schools is that we have a significant number of unqualified teachers within the classroom and the teachers’ unions themselves have been citing their dissatisfaction at this particular development.”