Madam, – Your Editorial on this topic (October 11th) endorses the decision taken by the universities to support the awarding of bonus points to candidates who take the higher-level maths paper at Leaving Cert. It is said that the extra points initiative will encourage more candidates to take higher-level maths and this, in some unexplained way, will form part of the solution to the maths problem. In my opinion it will make the problem much worse.
It is generally accepted that there is a scarcity of suitably qualified teachers of higher-level maths and yet it is suggested that part of the solution of the maths problem is to encourage more candidates to take the higher level.
Who is going to teach these students? Will it mean bigger classes for the already overworked teachers? I find it hard to accept that candidates, whose main reason for taking the higher level is the offer of bonus points, will be found with pens poised thirsting for mathematical knowledge. On the contrary, they will need the attention and skill of an experienced teacher – do we have a supply of such people? – Yours, etc,