Lack of science students threat to economy

THE drop-off in the number of students at second-level taking science and technology subjects is threatening the supply into third-level engineering and technology disciplines, a leading academic said yesterday.

Prof Michael Hillery, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Limerick, described the situation as “worrying’’ and warned that if not corrected, it would have a crippling effect on Ireland’s future industrial and economic development.

“Government, industry and the educational establishments will have to urgently address and find a solution to this problem without delay,’’ he said.