Fine Gael has called on the Minister for Education to clarify the situation regarding bonus CAO points for higher level maths.
Welcoming a move by UCD to introduce bonus points for Leaving Certificate higher level maths, Fine Gael education spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said Mary Couglan needed to clarify whether or not such a system will be introduced nationally for 2012.
In August, Ms Coughlan said students sitting higher level Leaving Certificate maths may be able to benefit from bonus points towards their third-level course within two years.
“The move by UCD is welcome but once again Mary Coughlan is leaving students hanging with no idea what is coming down the tracks,” Mr O’Dowd said.
“Students sitting the 2012 Leaving Cert have already begun fifth year and they need to know whether maths bonus points will be on offer should they choose to pursue the higher course,” he added.
ICT Ireland, Ibec’s representative group for the high-tech sector, today welcomed the decision by UCD to introduce bonus points, saying it would encourage more students to take the course.
ICT Ireland director Paul Sweetman said: “The reintroduction of bonus points will send a clear signal to national and international industry leaders that Ireland is serious about developing a smart economy”.
Higher-level maths provides students with key skills needed for the high-tech jobs Ireland is working to attract, he added.
Meanwhile, Engineers Ireland has announced it is to offer maths grinds to higher-level Leaving Certificate Maths students. Just 16 per cent of students or fewer than 8,500 took the higher-level maths paper in the Leaving Certificate this year.
John Power, director general of Engineers Ireland said: “The recent leaving cert results highlighted that maths is still a difficult subject for many students, even those at higher-level”.
Chartered engineer Tim Joyce said: “This should allow us remove at least some of the barriers that many students have. By helping them understand the real value and applicability of the methods they are now learning”.