Fine Gael Limerick TD, Patrick O’Donovan, has called on the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn TD, to consider introducing bonus points for higher level Physics, Chemistry and Applied Maths for students sitting the Leaving Certificate. Deputy O’Donovan raised the issue in the Dáil earlier today (Tuesday).
“We face a considerable challenge in increasing the number of students studying higher level Physics, Chemistry and Applied Maths. All of these subjects are important if a student is hoping to study a range of engineering, technology and science-based courses, which are increasingly in demand due to high levels of job creation in the tech sector.
“The low level of take up in these subjects is having a negative knock on impact in the third level sector. Many third level institutions are accepting students into engineering and science courses with ordinary-level leaving certificate maths and physics. The success rate of these students is then compromised, with many of them choosing to drop out because they don’t have sufficient competence in the required subjects.
“The introduction of bonus points for taking higher level Maths is clearly reaping rewards, as evidenced in the summer’s Leaving Certificate figures. If this approach is working, why not extend it to some other, more specialised subjects? For example, in 2011 approximately 1,000 students took Applied Maths in the Leaving Cert. Let’s do all we can to increase this figure.
“We need to recognise the level of difficulty associated with studying Physics, Chemistry and Applied Maths in particular. The results speak for themselves. In 2011, only 8.8% of Leaving Certificate students took higher level Physics, which was down from 10.2% in 2006. If we cannot encourage people to study these subjects at higher level, we will have a serious problem in filling the places on third level courses.
“I am urging the Department of Education, the Higher Education Authority and the various third level institutions to work together on this issue. The introduction of bonus points across the maths and science spectrum would be a good start in addressing the deficit in graduates in these disciplines.”