Points system ‘works well’ for technology institutes

THE institutes of technology do not see any need to abandon the college entry points system sought this week by a university president, according to their umbrella organisation.

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, president of Dublin City University (DCU), said on Monday that the system should be abandoned because of the pressure it puts on students and the status it places on certain professions because of the high points needed for qualifying courses.

But the chairman of Institutes of Technology Ireland (IOTI) Dr Richard Thorn said it was not a major issue for the 14 colleges in the sector. “We don’t have the courses which attract very high points requirements, such as medicine or law which are mostly offered by the universities,” said Dr Thorn, director of IT Sligo.