HIGH FAILURE rates in maths and science are the most striking features of the Leaving Cert results, published this morning. More than 5,000 Leaving Cert students have failed ordinary and foundation-level maths, making many ineligible for third-level courses, as maths is a basic requirement.
On a more positive note, the results show very strong performances in languages and music. Nine of the subjects with the highest honours rates are languages. There were also impressive results in higher-level applied maths, where 27 per cent scored an A grade and in chemistry, where 24 per cent got an A.
Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe last night urged students who had performed well in maths and science to think carefully about choosing courses in the science, engineering and technology sectors.
But the results overall highlight the shallow pool of high achievers in maths. While over 55,000 sat the Leaving Cert, only 6,600 gained an "honour" (Grade C3 or better) in higher-level maths. An honour in maths is the minimum requirement for third-level courses in science and engineering. In practice, this means that tens of thousands of students have already disqualified themselves from third-level courses in science and engineering, despite the priority given by the Government to the knowledge economy.
In all, only 17 per cent of Leaving Cert students opted for the higher-level paper in maths. At ordinary level, failure rates were also high in chemistry (14 per cent) and physics (8 per cent). Over 1,400 students also failed the higher-level biology paper.
Last night, business figures urged swift action to tackle a "crisis in maths and science". Employers' body Ibec said disappointing Leaving Cert results this year would undermine the capacity of Irish firms to innovate and the ambitions of the Government's Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Students can access their results at http://www.examinations.ie/ from midday quoting their personal identification and examination numbers. Results are also available by phoning 1 530 719 290 for callers within the Republic, or 00353 1 6885312 from outside the Republic.
