High failure rates in maths, science and business subjects are the most striking feature of the Leaving Cert results published this morning.
More than 4,300 students failed maths in the exam, while failure rates in science subjects at both higher and ordinary level were far higher than in other subjects. Failure rates were also relatively high across the main business subjects.
Speaking this morning at Portmarnock Community School in Co Dublin, Minister for Education Mary Coughlan said bonus points for Leaving Cert maths would be introduced by 2012.
She said she would press ahead with her plan to award bonus CAO points for maths, despite concerns raised by UCD and other colleges.
"I would reiterate my view, and it is being listened to by the universities, that we would be in a position to introduce additional bonus points in 2012 for higher education mathematics and it will entice and encourage our young people to make that very difficult decision to spend a considerable amount more time doing higher level mathematics."
She again ruled out the return of college fees during the lifetime of the Government but refused to rule out a hike in registration fees.
"We have not made any decisions and have not come to any finality with the Minister for Finance on any reductions in my expenditure and it won’t happen until the budget," she said.“I can’t rule out anything at this moment in time and I don’t think it is appropriate, for that matter, to speculate."
The “honours” or ABC rate for higher-level Irish and maths is down this year by 5.5 per cent and 3 per cent respectively – the first decline since 2005. The drop in grades comes after concerns were raised about grade inflation and a “dumbing down” of the Leaving Cert.
With record numbers seeking college places this year, CAO points for most major courses are expected to increase when the first round of offers is published next Monday.
Among the most popular subjects, biology had the highest failure rate (9 per cent) at higher level. Failure rates were also relatively high in chemistry (8 per cent); physics (7 per cent); business (6.5 per cent ); and economics (5 per cent). This compares to failure rates of less than 2 per cent for Irish and English.
The failure rate for chemistry at ordinary level was 18.5 per cent.
In maths, the failure rate at ordinary level declined marginally from 10.4 to 9.8 per cent. But only 16 per cent of students – or fewer than 8,500 – took the higher-level paper. This is about a quarter of the figure taking higher-level English.
On a more positive note, the new more “user-friendly” Project Maths course – examined for the first time this year – attracted a higher percentage of higher-level students (18.7 per cent) from the 24 schools in the pilot programme.
Overall, the Leaving Cert results tend to reflect Ireland’s standing in international league tables.
While Ireland is among the top-ranked Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations in reading and literacy, it is ranked only in mid-table in both science and maths.
Last night, the group representing 600 US companies in Ireland called for dramatic reform of the education system.
Joanne Richardson, chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, said the continuing failure rates in subjects such as maths, chemistry and physics was disappointing “considering the focus on developing a smart economy”.
The employers’ group Ibec said fewer than 50 per cent of maths teachers at second level have their main qualification in the subject.
Fine Gael education spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said Ireland needed high levels of achievement in science and technology, but instead of seeing positive moves in this area, the Leaving Cert results had confirmed disappointing trends.
Ms Coughlan promised yesterday a report on a series of blunders in this year’s exams would be published shortly.
Results were available from early this morning in schools. Students can also access their examination results from midday today by quoting their Personal Identification Number (Pin) and examination number online at examinations.ie, or by phoning 1530 719 290 for callers in the Republic or 00353 1 6885312 for callers from outside the Republic.
Results: main points
* Only 16 per cent of students sat the higher-level maths paper while 4,300 failed the subject across all levels.
* The honours rate declined by over 2 per cent in higher-level accounting. Key sections of this paper were omitted when the paper was first distributed in 16 south Dublin schools.
* The number of A, B or C grades in higher-level English grades rose by 0.6 per cent – despite the surprise omission of poet Eavan Boland in the June exam.
* Concerns over grade inflation may be having an impact – the honours rates dipped this year in Irish and maths.
* Among the most popular subjects, music and Irish have the highest honours or ABC rate at higher level. Biology and business have the lowest.
* The Irish Times helpline for the Leaving Cert results can be accessed at 1800 946 942.
The line will be open today and tomorrow and on Monday and Tuesday of next week from 8am to 7pm.