There was good news for proponents of the Project Maths initiative today with the release of Leaving Certificate results showing a marked improvement in performance at higher level.
According to official figures, of the more than 11,000 students who took the higher level maths exam, where a record 97.7% achieved a D grade or higher, leaving a failure rate of 2.3%. This compares with 8,000 students with a failure rate of 8.6% in 2011.
The improved results have been credited in part to the Project Maths syllabus being trialled in 24 schools across the country with its more applied perspective and the incentive of 25 bonus points for students who achieved a pass or higher at honours level.
Project Maths schools secured improved results at both higher and ordinary levels, with only 75 fails from a sample of 1,341 candidates and an above average number of A grades compared to the rest of the country.
The news was welcomes by industry and educational bodies campaigning for improved standards among second level graduates.
"The likely increase in CAO points in many areas of engineering, science and technology this year shows that students are now recognising the benefits of a career in these areas. The bonus points now on offer are also a factor," said Director General of Engineers Ireland, John Power. "However, maths competence is the bedrock upon which qualifications in these sectors are based… it is now imperative we build on the growing interest in certain engineering disciplines and the sciences to do all that we can to ensure students have the requisite maths skills to meet this demand for graduates in expanding areas of our economy."
The first round of CAO offers next Monday should give additional insight into students’ attitude towards maths as the spread of applications in science, IT and engineering courses becomes known. One downside to the likely increased demand for places is an increase in points.
Irish Computer Society President Fintan Swanton said there avenues open to students looking for places in IT courses beyond the CAO process: "It is understandable that young people would want to be involved in such a thriving and exciting field. Unfortunately this means that there will be some students who will not get into their preferred course. I encourage these students not to be disheartened but to persevere with IT by exploring the many different ways to begin a career in computing."
A total of 55,815 sat the Leaving Certificate this year, down 1,700 on 2011.
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