Despite improvements in some subjects, high failure rates in both maths and science are causing concern, writes John Downes
Slightly improved results in some subjects are encouraging, but high failure rates in maths and science are once again a worrying feature of this year's Leaving Certificate results.
You have only to glance at today's failure rates in subjects such as biology, maths and chemistry to realise that turning Ireland into an increasingly high-tech, knowledge-based society will be no mean feat.
Despite a growing Government emphasis on the importance of the skills learned by students taking science subjects, the results tell a different, more worrying story about the abilities of our 17 and 18 year-olds.
This is how today's results break down across some of the main subject areas.
Science
Any student looking purely to maximise the number of points they obtain in the Leaving Certificate could be forgiven for steering away from ordinary level physics, chemistry and biology. Who could blame them if instead of taking subjects where more than one in every ten students fail, they picked subjects such as art, where failure rates are at 3 per cent?
And if they are higher level students, subjects such as music - where 96 per cent got honours - and Irish - where 83 per cent of students obtained at least a C3 grade - also offer real hope of getting them the points they need.
Once again, this year's failure rates in ordinary level science subjects remain high. Nearly one in every five students taking the biology exam failed the paper - compared with only 5 per cent of students sitting subjects such as Irish or business.
Similarly, 12 per cent of students sitting chemistry failed to pass the exam - up 3 per cent on last year; 11 per cent of students taking physics at this level also failed.
In this context, it seems difficult to know how ordinary level students in particular can be encouraged to take science subjects for their Leaving Cert.
Maths
The huge challenge facing students who fail maths at higher, ordinary or foundation level is underlined by this year's results.
As a pass in the subject is essential for entry into a wide range of computer, engineering and technology courses, the fact that thousands failed to do achieve this in June will come as a massive blow to the hopes of industry and Government alike.
This year, 12 per cent of over 36,000 ordinary level students failed the subject, while 4 per cent failed higher level and 8 per cent failed foundation level. Although the numbers obtaining an honour in higher level maths increased slightly to 78 per cent, this will do little to assuage the concerns of those who feel the syllabus is just too difficult.
With this in mind, and as revealed in yesterday's Irish Times, the high-level National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has suggested that a "root and branch review" of the subject may be required.
This would be the first of its kind since the 1960s, and follows concerns from third-level lecturers about the low level of maths knowledge and skills shown by students.
Irish
The traditional perception among students that Irish is a "difficult honour" was once again undermined by this year's results.
In fact, 83 per cent of the 14,000 students sitting the higher level paper obtained an honour. At ordinary level, 75per cent also obtained an honour - with just 5 per cent failing.
English
Higher level English is also regarded as a difficult exam to do well in. But in fact, failure rates at both higher and ordinary level remain low.
A total of 76 per cent of higher level students also obtained an honour in English, down slightly on last year, while 77 per cent got a C3 or higher at ordinary level.
History
Students sitting the last higher level paper of the 80-year-old history syllabus were granted few favours in this year's exam, with 69 per cent of students obtaining an honour - compared to 72 per cent last year.
There have long been concerns about the high failure rates in the subject, particularly at ordinary level. In particular, teachers have expressed hope that the new syllabus will prove more "user -friendly" for students, and will help to counteract this trend.
This year's ordinary level results do provide some grounds for optimism. The number of students failing the exam fell to 14 per cent, down from 17 per cent the year before.