Students urged not to give up on sciences
Dr Barry McSweeney said he feared a negative reaction, not alone from students but also from their parents, to science subjects following publication of the results.
At ordinary-level this year, almost 20% of students failed biology, 12% failed chemistry and maths and 11% failed physics.
But Dr McSweeney said it was crucial that those about to enter the Leaving Cert cycle and those considering re-sitting their exams did not drop science subjects.
“When you look at [the results], there is a temptation to reject science subjects or reject maths,” he said. “Sure, there are problems, and the problems aren’t going to be fixed overnight and, yes, people can be critical about the length of time that was taken to recognise [these] problems and address them.
“But that is not a legitimate reason why people should opt out of science, because they are really restricting their career choices enormously by doing this.”
He accepted criticisms that there was “boredom” with the curricula, and that the subjects were perceived to be difficult.
“But each of these [curricula] are man-made and can change,” he said.
Dr McSweeney, appointed last September to provide independent expert advice to the Government on all matters scientific, said the drop-off in numbers taking science subjects after the Junior Cert was worrying.
“Your first big drainage starts at the end of Junior Cert - you go from 93% [participation] and it falls off... So you don’t need to be a genius to see that there is urgent and active need to do something,” he said.
Ireland’s future as a knowledge-based economy depended on “a quality stream” of graduates versed in such subjects.
In March Dr McSweeney presented an analysis to the Cabinet outlining the issues that had to be addressed if the future well-being of the economy was to be assured.
The analysis has not been published, but Dr McSweeney said education was central to it.
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