For most courses at present, colleges will not accept students who fail maths, whether at higher or lower level.

In a letter to the Heads of Colleges, Ms Coughlan has proposed that they accept a Grade E in higher level maths for entry purposes.

The Minister points out that every year thousands of students drop from higher to ordinary-level maths in the run-up to the Leaving Cert exam. This drop down rate (approx 20 per cent) between spring and June of the examination year is the highest of any Leaving Cert subject, the Minister says.

“In terms of the risk of failing to meet matriculation (entry) requirements, perhaps the institutions would consider whether they are prepared to accept grade E at higher level as meeting matriculation requirements and being equivalent to at least a D3 at ordinary level (perhaps only for courses without a high maths content),” the Minister writes.

In her letter, she says only 16 per cent of students took higher-level maths last year; in contrast, 64 per cent of students took higher-level English and 72 per cent took higher-level biology.

The Minister states plainly that we urgently need to improve attainment levels in maths generally (Ireland’s maths students come mid-table only in the OECD rankings), and we need to see more students taking higher level maths.

“In a globalised competitive economy it is important that Ireland moves beyond being ‘average’ at mathematics towards the promotion of advanced levels of skills, creativity and innovation. We urgently need to improve attainment levels in maths generally and to encourage more students to take higher-level maths.”

To this end, she strongly backs bonus points for higher maths to compensate for the “perceived additional workload associated with higher-level maths over other subjects, and reduce the level of risk associated with failing to meet matriculation requirements”.

The Minister would like to send a clear message to second-level students that there will be bonus points for higher-level maths from 2012. This lead-in time would allow students beginning the first year of the Leaving Cert programme next September to make informed decisions on subject choice and level.

However, the final decision about bonus points rests with the academic council in each college.
(Source: Irish Times)