ATTENTION IS expected to focus on grades in maths and science subjects when the Leaving Cert results are published tomorrow.
Last year, almost 5,000 students failed maths in the Leaving Certificate, and high failure rates were also evident in physics, chemistry and biology at ordinary level.
Grades in higher-level English will also be closely monitored after this year’s security breach, which forced the State Exams Commission to reschedule the second paper.
Last year, more than 75 per cent of students secured an A, B or C grade in higher-level English, making it one of the “easier” honours in the exam. The honours rate at higher level in English has been broadly unchanged in recent years.
Career experts believe CAO points for most college courses, to be published next Monday, will be broadly in line with last year, despite the increase in applications from mature students. This is because the greatly increased number of college places in recent years can comfortably accommodate the stronger demand.
This year, Leaving Cert students, in making their CAO applications, deserted third-level courses linked to the construction and property sectors in their droves.
Demand for courses in property, civil engineering, architecture and the general built environment has virtually collapsed in many colleges. However there was a 20 per cent increase in demand for science and related courses.
Government and business leaders are bracing themselves for high failure rates in maths again this year.
In response to the “maths crisis” in schools, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe is rolling out a new, more student-friendly Project Maths programme.
The programme is being piloted in 24 schools but will not be fully implemented in all schools until 2012.
Mr O’Keeffe said yesterday that Project Maths was “designed to encourage greater take-up at higher level and provide a solid foundation for careers in science, technology, engineering, business and the humanities as we seek to build the knowledge economy and society”.
He said he would urge students who performed well in Leaving Certificate maths and science to think carefully about courses in the science, technology and engineering sectors.
John Power, director general of Engineers Ireland, said a stronger focus on the teaching of maths and science was required .
“We should do whatever it takes to improve the standard of teaching in these subjects in second level, but students should appreciate the growing opportunities,” Mr Power said.
“While many sectors are heavily hit by the downturn, there are still jobs in sectors of engineering and science.”