Changes planned for entry to third level

Colleges aim to slow the points race with more of an emphasis on true learning, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray

PLANNED changes to how colleges select students and the way the Leaving Certificate is set and graded are the latest in a series of moves to slow the annual points race facing tens of thousands of teenagers.

Measures announced at the Department of Education this week stem from a conference 18 months ago where key figures from second and third level education agreed that the current entry system skews what happens in schools. The race for entry, particularly to high-points college courses, often means too much focus is placed on students maximising points from Leaving Certificate exams rather than on learning and developing critical thinking.