Curriculum change to tackle maths problem

THE only way to tackle worrying grades in maths is the long-term approach of a new curriculum which will not be examined in the Leaving Certificate for another three years, Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe insisted yesterday. Despite calls for an overhaul of the way maths and science are taught, in the wake of poor uptake of science subjects and higher level maths again this year, he said the revised curriculum is the best way to change student interest.

The proportion of students who took higher level maths fell further this year to just 16.2% or less than one-in-six, down from almost 19% in 2005.

There was also a further drop in the numbers sitting physics and higher failure rates in chemistry, although the proportion failing ordinary level maths dropped from one-in-eight a year ago to just over 10%.

The Project Maths programme being piloted among junior and senior cycle students at 24 schools will be rolled out nationally from next year but the first results will not be seen until the 2012 Leaving Certificate and the Junior Certificate a year later.

"I believe you can only change the trend by making curriculum change and the emphasis is going to be on understanding mathematical concepts. I'm concerned in education at what I call rote learning, which does not go hand-in-hand with science and maths," he said.

Mr O'Keeffe said he has ruled out awarding bonus points for college applicants with higher level Leaving Certificate maths, because colleges which have already done so have seen no increase in numbers studying maths degrees, and 60% of those who sit higher level maths do not pursue courses in maths or science.

"I think the curriculum is the way forward and, while people might say it's not as fast forward as we'd like it to be, we'll have to handle this in a systematic way and in doing that I think we'll envelop students into an understanding and an appreciation [of maths and science]," Mr O'Keeffe said.

Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said the Government has failed to tackle the falling numbers taking Leaving Certificate science subjects and the low uptake in higher level maths.

"Ireland will suffer unless science participation at Junior Certificate level is brought up to 100%, there is root and branch reform of maths teaching and learning and schools are clustered, allocating lab technicians to use these clusters to support science teaching," he said.

The body representing the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors expressed concern at the continuing low numbers taking chemistry, although a 20% rise in applications for science degrees is encouraging, it said.

"If Ireland is to deliver on the aspirations espoused by the Government in its own Smart Economy strategy, further investment in science education is urgently needed," said PharmaChemical Ireland director Matt Moran.

Mr O'Keeffe encouraged students with good grades in science subjects to pursue these disciplines in college. "Our jobs are going to be in sciences and technology, and I'm saying to students, who are looking at their career paths, you're guaranteed a job as a result of your third-level course."