Testing times for Minister

Fionnán Sheahan, Political Reporter KEEP calm. It's not the end of the world if you didn't do well. No doubt many of the Class of 2002 had put that advice to the back of their minds last night as they guzzled down their 15th Smirnoff Ice, whether drowning their sorrows or celebrating their success.

But though the latest Leaving Certs off the production line will be taking a break from exams for a while, tough tests remain for those making decisions on the future of the education system.

Teachers' pay remains a big sticking point and not even the relatively healthy awards recommended under benchmarking for the profession will quell the hostilities.

The INTO and TUI should be able to sell the benchmarking deal to their members, but the ASTI continues to hold out for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The union's ban on voluntary supervision and substitution rambles on and school managers and Department of Education officials continue to work on alternatives to the contingency plan which saw 2,500 non-teachers brought into schools.

The uncertainty on supervision and substitution must be resolved in the run-up to the start of term little more than a fortnight away to prevent it becoming a worry for strung-out students.

Little doubt exists that those who received their results yesterday were affected by the long-running teachers' dispute. Although no days were missed this school year, when these students were in fifth year up to three weeks of classes were cut by the strike and withdrawal of supervision.

Indeed, many parents would argue the damage to their children's Leaving Cert chances was done 18 months ago. At a time when every day is important and disruptions to learning routines can prove costly, this was valuable time lost.

The ASTI leadership must accept their campaign has failed, take what's on offer and allow the school system to get back to normal. Education Minister Noel Dempsey is obliged to ensure a pattern does not emerge whereby another 55,000 students suffer as a result of this saga.

The worryingly high failure rates in maths has led the Minister to order a review of the syllabus. Poor results in maths and science not only reflect poorly on our renowned education system but also could have a knock-on effect for the economy if it causes a decline in the skills of the workforce.

It may be time to bite the bullet and offer higher points for third level entry at all levels for these subjects in order to concentrate efforts.

The consequences for further education and employment options as a result of failing in maths also needs to be emphasised.

But for all the post-results analysis of the one in seven failing maths, here's a far more cutting statistic from an ESRI study almost one in five leave school with no Leaving Cert at all. Usually these are children from poor areas.

Mr Dempsey has vowed to make educational disadvantage his principal focus.

It's an admirable vow and, though the Minister will have his work cut out, it's an area where rewards can be reaped. Even basic initiatives like providing a square meal to schoolchildren from disadvantaged backgrounds have been found to produce enormous results in school attendance.

Donogh O'Malley claimed his place in history through his implementation of free schooling. To uphold his predecessor's legacy, Mr Dempsey needs to ensure all those entitled to this right can avail of it and get an equal crack of the whip at Leaving Cert level.