Call to scrap compulsory maths

A PASS grade in maths should no longer be compulsory for entry to third level, a major education conference has heard.

Each year, 16% of boys taking Leaving Certificate maths fail the exam, a result which prevents them from going on to third level, delegates at the Irish Vocational Education Association conference heard last night.

Irish is no longer compulsory in our schools and we should now look at ending the need for a pass grade in maths, before continuing on to third level, Clare VEC vice chairman Flan Garvey proposed.