Maths should be counted in points total, say experts

STUDENTS may have to include maths in their CAO points total under a proposal made in a top-level report to Education Minster Mary Coughlan.

It suggests making it mandatory either for students to count maths among their six best subjects for college entry in future -- or to widen the scope of the points system to include seven subjects, one of which would be maths.

The report from a group of industry and education experts notes the tendency for students to use maths as a spare subject, rather than as one of the six core subjects for CAO points.

Most Leaving Certificate students take seven subjects -- the best six are counted for CAO points purposes, at a maximum of 100 points each at higher level.

There is strong anecdotal evidence of students abandoning higher-level maths because of the time and effort involved, and taking up business or home economics at higher level, where points are more easily gained.

The expert group was appointed by former Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe to recommend ways of improving national maths performance, which rates only average internationally.

The report, seen exclusively by the Irish Independent, is the latest in a series focused on equipping the country for the needs of the so-called smart economy, which will see an increasing dependence on good maths skills.

Bonus

It also deals with the thorny issue of bonus points for higher-level maths in the Leaving Cert, but there was no consensus on whether it would be a good idea.

Ms Coughlan has already said that she wants to see bonus points introduced as a short-term solution to the poor uptake of higher-level maths by students.

While the institutes of technology support the idea, there is strong resistance within the universities, although they are considered likely to reluctantly agree.

The report makes strong recommendations about improving teacher quality and on increasing the amount of time spent teaching maths in the classroom.

The single most important element in improving maths learning is the quality of maths teachers, it states.

The report of the Project Maths Implementation Support Group take its name from the Project Maths initiative, the main plank of government policy for raising maths standards.

Project Maths focuses on developing understanding rather than rote learning and is being gradually rolled out at second level, with 24 schools taking the first Leaving Cert exam in it this week.

While making maths compulsory may be deemed a punitive approach by some students, particularly those not interested in a maths-related career, it would ensure that students work hard at the subject in school to contribute to the overall agenda of improving attainment levels, the report states.

- Katherine Donnelly

Irish Independent