Junior Cert out of date, say business leaders

Business leaders today rubbished the Junior Certificate as out of touch while more than 56,000 students awaited their results.

Ibec urged the Government to scrap the tests which they claim stifle creativity and a spirit of enquiry in the teenagers who sit them.

However, Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe insisted it was a proud day for students, their parents and teachers after many hours of hard work.

"I am very encouraged to see that over 87% of students took the Science subject at Junior Certificate level in 2008," he said.

"Over two-thirds of those students taking science are taking it at higher level.

"The practical elements of the assessment, which account for up to a third of the marks, certainly takes pressure off students during the final examination.

"It is my hope that students will continue with science subjects when planning their subject choices for their Leaving Certificate."

However, Ibec said society and the economy had changed and it was now time for the Junior Certificate to follow suit.

Siobhan Masterson, senior policy executive for the organisation, said the exams fail to produce skills in pupils which are critical for the knowledge economy.

"The Junior Certificate curriculum fosters negative attitudes towards particular subjects and discourages many from continuing within the formal education system," she said.

"Failure to radically reform the Junior Certificate is, therefore, a failure to recognise the huge potential that young students can achieve during their early years at second level."