THE NUMBER of university students opting for courses in the key areas of combined maths, science and computing declined by 13 per cent last year, according to new figures from the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The figures are likely to spark fresh concern about the relatively small number of students opting for such courses.
Last week, the American Chamber of Commerce expressed concern about the skills deficit in technology and related areas.
Yesterday, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe announced details of a new expert group that will examine how his department and the private sector can work more closely to improve technology in the classroom.
The HEA figures show that courses in science and engineering were the only ones to register a decline in new students. All other disciplines have shown increases since 2006/7, with a sharp rise in demand for courses in arts, social science, business and law.
Overall, some 20 per cent of new students opted for courses in science and engineering in universities; some 28 per cent opted for arts courses.
The new expert group, which will report by May, comprises members of ICT Ireland, the Telecommunications and Internet Federation, the Irish Software Association, the Department of Education and Science and the National Centre for Technology in Education. It will be chaired by Paul Rellis, managing director of Microsoft Ireland.
At present, the Republic is close to the bottom of OECD tables in relation to ICT facilities in schools. The Teachers’ Union of Ireland has said over half of school computers are unusable.
The expert group will advise on the use of computers to improve teaching and learning, and explore ways in which private industry could partner with schools in delivering better high-tech classroom equipment.
Mr O’Keeffe said: “As Minister, I attach particular significance to information communications technology (ICT) in the classroom and the need to make computer literacy and high-tech awareness an integral part of the learning process for our young people.
“Over the past number of months, I’ve met all the major players in the ICT sector as part of my efforts to engage them in a discussion of the role they can play in helping Government to enhance ICT capacity in schools.
“In these more challenging economic times, I’m looking for innovative and cost-effective ways in which we can enhance the classroom experience for students and teachers, including in the area of ICT.”
Mr O’Keeffe said his longer-term goal was to increase the take-up of science, engineering and technology courses in third-level institutions in the building of Ireland’s “smart economy and innovation island” strategy.
The HEA figures show that the number of full-time students enrolling in the seven universities has increased by over 10 per cent since 2003 and by 3 per cent in the past year.
But much of this increase has been at the expense of the institutes of technology, where enrolment is down by over 4 per cent since 2006.
The HEA figures also highlight the continuing domination of the middle- and upper-classes. Across higher education, the children of employers and managers accounted for most new entrants. Students from semi-skilled and unskilled backgrounds were better represented in the institutes.