Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has today (Wednesday), called for bonus points to be introduced for Physics, Chemistry and Applied Maths based on the success of the bonus points for maths.
“This year 13,660 Leaving Certificate received bonus CAO points for passing the Higher Level Maths paper. Only 5,399 students chose higher level Physics this year, 1,569 took Applied Maths and 7,226 took the Chemistry higher level paper. This is a slight increase on last year but it is still not enough.
“People are choosing maths and engineering courses but there is a huge problem with drop-outs between first and second year in college and this is down to the gap in knowledge between ordinary and higher level.
“Because courses have to be filled, students with ordinary Physics or Chemistry are being accepted into third level but when they get there, they find they do not have the required knowledge to keep up. We are doing our young people a disservice by allowing this to happen.
“This year 27% of students took up higher level maths paper and over 95% passed the exam. The students can do it, they have the ability but they just need the incentive. Physics and Chemistry are more difficult for many and students are not confident in their ability. As it stands, they choose to take the ordinary level paper and avoid the pressure.
“We are in a position where thousands of jobs are being created each week and many of them are in the high technology sector. If we cannot encourage people to take higher-level leaving certificate Physics, Applied Maths and Chemistry, we will have a serious problem in filling the places on third level courses, not to mention retaining them to the point at which they are conferred with the appropriate degree.
“The bonus points initiative has worked for higher level maths and while I recognise that it will lose its effectiveness if applied to too many subjects, in the case of Physics, Applied Maths and Chemistry, these subjects are particularly difficult and definitely need a boost.”