UCD HAS agreed to introduce bonus CAO points for Leaving Certificate higher level maths for a trial period of four years, starting in 2012.
The agreement is a major boost for Minister for Education Mary Coughlan who requested the change from UCD and other colleges. The move makes it likely that the other six universities will also agree to bonus points on a trial basis.
The Minister hopes the introduction of bonus points will boost student take up of higher level maths.
More than 4,300 of the 58,000 students who sat the Leaving Cert this year failed maths, and only 16 per cent sat the higher level paper, by far the lowest of any honours subject. After the results, the employers’ group Ibec and the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland expressed disappointment at the high failure rate in the subject. The chamber said the performance of Irish students in maths and science subjects was disappointing “considering the focus on developing a smart economy”.
Ibec estimated that less than half of second-level mathematics teachers had a major qualification in the subject, and said maths was “critical for the success of the high-value knowledge-intensive business sectors”.
UCD said the precise scheme for additional points will be decided in the coming weeks following consultation with other universities and the objective is to have a single scheme for all those institutions awarding bonus points.
In announcing the decision to pilot bonus points, UCD deputy president and vice-president for academic affairs Dr Philip Nolan said: “We believe that increasing mathematics attainment at second and third level is essential and that bonus points is likely to increase the uptake of higher mathematics. For this reason the academic council has decided to pilot the measure for four years from 2012.
“However, it will only be successful if it is part of a suite of measures to interest students in mathematics, to ensure the best possible teaching and to support student learning. The Minister must ensure that all students have equal access to higher mathematics and that it is available in all schools,” he added.
He said there was merit in the idea that the examination should be split into two parts, one testing basic mathematical competency, which if passed would secure a pass overall and entry to third level, and another to test advanced mathematics ability.
The university identified three possible dangers:
That bonus points may contribute to increased competition, or a worsening points race
That students who do not require high points might not see bonus points as much of an incentive to persist with higher maths
That higher level mathematics would not be available to some students, particularly in schools in poorer areas, and that this would worsen issues of access to university.