‘Too early’ to judge impact of Project Maths

It is too early to properly judge the impact of the new Project Maths syllabus which has been partially credited for improved Leaving Certificate grades in the subject, say teachers and Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.

Despite many criticisms of the system, in which all students were examined in two out of five strands on one of the two maths papers in June, overall grades were up on last year. A record high 22.1% of maths students opted for higher level, up from a record low one-in-six a year ago, mainly prompted by the offer of bonus college entry points this year.

But the Teachers’ Union of Ireland said the revised syllabus should be assessed on a broad body of evidence and experience before any judgment is made on its merits or requirements for further adjustments. “If, on the basis of evidence, adjustments are required, then of course they can be made,” said the union’s general secretary John MacGabhann.