Warning on science slump in schools

GROWING numbers of students are not taking any science subject at second level, prompting fears over skill levels among future workers.

The warning on the low take-up of science came yesterday as Taoiseach Brian Cowen emphasised once again the need to create a "smart economy" around technological innovation and expertise. The Institute of Physics said the increase in schools dropping science subjects because of education cut backs was a "national emergency".

Already, 14pc of schools have dropped one science subject this year, with physics the most likely victim.

Physics-based industry in Ireland provides more than 85,000 well-paid jobs, with around half of those in key export-led areas, such as IT, medical devices and communications. The contribution of physics-based industry to the economy is more than €15bn annually and the supply of well-qualified science graduates is crucial to the continued success of these industries. But within a few years, 20pc of schools may not be offering physics, according to Dr Sheila Gilheaney, policy officer of the Institute of Physics.

She said: "It is possible for some students to finish their second-level schooling with no science education of any sort, as science is not a mandatory subject at junior cycle.

"Students leaving science in such numbers is in all likelihood a direct result of the recent cutbacks which included removing the annual grant to support the teaching of physics and chemistry," she said in a response to what the institute calls the current educational "time-bomb". She added: "For the individual, career options are significantly narrowed while for the country we cannot hope to prosper.

Meanwhile, Mr Cowen told a conference yesterday to mark the 25th anniversary of Microsoft in Ireland that the Government wanted to make Ireland the best place in Europe to turn research and knowledge into products and services.

He announced a new "high-level implementation committee" to concentrate on boosting new technologies and driving the "smart economy".

- John Walshe and Aine Kerr

Irish Independent