One significant and recent change in secondary education is the greater emphasis on mathematics and science subjects, as more students take these courses, at Junior and Leaving Certificate level. The Junior Cert results published yesterday show a further increase in those taking higher-level maths, with 54 per cent of all candidates sitting the exam – up from 48 per cent in 2012. This sharp rise is, in part, a reaction to the introduction of Project Maths in the Leaving Certificate. More students now recognise that, by taking the higher-level maths paper in the Junior Cert exam, they may be better prepared for the challenge Project Maths later presents.
This greater interest in maths has left a number of schools unprepared to cater for the increased student uptake of the subject. Some schools are struggling to meet the demand for places from those keen to study higher-level maths for the Junior Cert. Not every student, it seems, can be facilitated. Project Maths is intended to encourage a greater interest in the subject, partly achieved by offering bonus points in the Leaving Cert exam to those who secure an honours grade. A similar incentive to encourage greater study of Irish at a higher level, by raising – to 40 per cent – the percentage grade for the oral element of the Irish exam, also produced a far higher participation rate in the subject.
Overall the results – in both the Leaving and Junior Cert – reflect satisfactory progress in secondary education, where increasingly policy is shaped and influenced by the employment opportunities the domestic economy offers, in sectors such as science and technology, agriculture and food science. Given the major role that education plays in the modern economy, one area of concern was identified by the recent OECD survey of global education among 36 countries. This showed a far higher proportion (21 per cent) of 15-29 year olds in Ireland were categorised as not in employment, education or training, than the OECD average (15 per cent). A measure of the challenge ahead.
