Research shows secondary students interested in practical subjects

LANGUAGES and maths are a turn-off for younger secondary school students who are far more interested in practical subjects such as art, new research has found.

Consequently, schools should offer the practical subjects preferred by younger students if they want children to be more interested in their studies, the research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has recommended.

In the research for its Pathways Through the Junior Cycle report, the institute found that second year students tend to have a greater interest in subjects with a more practical orientation, including art, materials technology (wood) and physical education.