Hanafin vows to solve growing maths problem

MEASURES to make maths more interesting for Leaving Certificate students will be in place within two years, Education Minister Mary Hanafin insisted yesterday.

After 4,069 people found out yesterday that they failed ordinary level maths in this year’s exam, the minister responded to criticisms of the maths curriculum from business leaders and opposition parties. The failure rate means one-in-12 students who took the ordinary level exam are ineligible for many college courses with minimum entry requirements for maths.

But Ms Hanafin said that proposals she received from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) will be implemented from September 2008 in some schools and across the board from 2009.