Sir, – Media reports focus on reviewing the honours-level papers and decide to throw a sentence or two in at the end about the ordinary-level paper. These lines typically consist of the following: “The ordinary-level paper was well received” or “Students were satisfied with the subject at that level”. What sort of message is this sending to the youth of today? Are we merely brushing the efforts of thousands of students under the carpet just because of the level they chose to sit a Leaving Certificate paper at? Just because certain students do not possess the aptitude for complex mathematics or foreign languages they are denied the proper recognition for their work towards sitting an ordinary-level paper.
Why are we focusing so much on honour-level students when those at lower levels are just as important? Yes, the honours paper may be more difficult, but those ordinary-level papers are just as much of a struggle to the students that sit them. – Yours, etc,
MARY KELLY,
Glenhest,
Newport,
Co Mayo.