Concern about the fall-off in student interest in maths and science - and the declining standards in these key subjects - is gathering pace. In the latest move, the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), the venerable body which promotes research and scholarship, wants bonus CAO points for students taking these subjects in the Leaving Certificate. The RIA says these subjects require extra effort and therefore merit extra points. It is not an unreasonable proposal.
Many teachers will openly admit that the workload for say higher level maths can be up to double that of other, less onerous, Leaving Cert subjects. While this might be officially disputed, students are taking flight from maths and the science subjects, believing them to be too difficult. Instead, they are casting around for other less-challenging subjects with a greater potential for maximising CAO points. This morning, less than 20 per cent of Leaving Cert students will sit higher level maths, compared with about 70 per cent taking the honours paper in other subjects. A similar trend is evident in other key science subjects. Less than one-in-ten Leaving Cert students will take higher level physics and chemistry next week.
All of this is bad news for our economic future. The RIA statement was supported by a senior figure from Intel. He pointed out that achievement in higher level maths and physics is "vitally important" to the company's long term success in Ireland. It is the kind of statement which should concern policymakers. But what is to be done?
The Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, is said to be cool on the notion of bonus points, especially for maths. Her priority is to boost overall standards in the subject by pushing for a more accessible and relevant course work. This is praiseworthy but it is a long-term project. On bonus points, the Minister is guided by the 1999 Points Commission, which highlighted how they could undermine the overall Leaving Cert exam. But there is an issue of equity here. Higher level maths is more challenging than other Leaving Cert subjects, that is why a bonus points scheme was in place until 20 years ago. To their credit, two of our leading third-level institutions, UL and DIT continue to award bonus points for higher level maths.
Urgent action is required to arrest the drift away from these subjects. For several years the Government has been beating the drum for maths and science but it has made no difference. There has been a lot of hand-wringing but very little action. A dramatic initiative is required. The RIA proposal deserves serious scrutiny.