THE NUMBER of students registered to take higher level maths in the Leaving Certificate this week is the fewest ever. New figures show just 10,435 have registered to take the exam on Friday, the lowest figure recorded by the State Exams Commission.
The expectation is that the total number who will sit higher level maths this week could dip below the record low of 8,388 in 2007 as one in five students drop down from higher to ordinary level maths on the morning of the exam. The number of students registered to take higher level maths in 2007 was 10,457.
Some 55,550 candidates will sit the Leaving Cert this year. A further 3,245 are sitting the Leaving Cert Applied, and 57,732 the Junior Cert, which also starts tomorrow, across almost 4,750 exam centres.
The new figures are a blow to Government efforts to boost maths; it has long identified the subject as key for the “smart economy”.
In all only about 16 per cent of Leaving Cert students will take higher maths this year – by far the lowest figure for any higher level subject. In contrast, 64 per cent of students took higher level English and 77 per cent took higher level geography last year.
The Government will also be disappointed with the take-up for the new “user-friendly” Project Maths at higher level in the 24 schools where it is being rolled out on a pilot basis.
Last year only 18 per cent of students took the new programme at higher level. This year 21 per cent have registered to take higher level in Project Maths but this is expected to drop on the morning of the exam.
In the Dáil recently, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn revealed that 20 per cent of students who registered to sit higher level maths in the Leaving Cert dropped down to ordinary level in 2010. This reflects concern among students that they could fail higher level maths, making them ineligible for many CAO courses. Last year more than 4,300 students failed maths at higher, ordinary and foundation level.
Students are also reluctant to take higher level maths because it is regarded as tougher and more time consuming than other subjects.
The new figures come amid increasing concern about overall standards in maths. In international OECD rankings, the performance of Irish teenagers in maths has fallen from 16th to 26th place, the second steepest decline among participating countries. Ireland is now ranked as below average in maths.
The Government hopes Project Maths – due to be rolled out fully in every school from 2014 – will help build student interest in the subject. However, critics claim the exam is a “dumbed down’’ version of the current higher level programme.
In a further bid to address the crisis in maths, third-level colleges have agreed to operate a bonus points scheme for higher level maths for a four-year trial period, beginning next year. A bonus of 25 points will be allocated to students who achieve a grade D3 or above in higher level maths.