Rise in Leaving Cert candidates may put pressure on college points race

THE pressure for college places could be slightly higher this summer as the State Examinations Commission has reported that 1,837 more students than last year will sit the Leaving Certificate in June.

The commission had notification from 53,363 people that they intend to take the exam this year, compared with 51,500 at this stage in 2007.

This is an increase of 3.5% and almost 5% higher than the entry numbers at around the same time two years ago, reflecting the growth in school-leavers prompted by the increased birth rate around the early 1990s.

But, while the numbers seeking entry to college directly from school may rise as a result, there are also likely to be a few hundred more places in higher education courses again this year. Another factor helping to keep down increases in points for most courses, despite the rise in candidates, is that students sitting the Leaving Certificate account for less than two-thirds of all seeking college entry through the Central Applications Office system.

Figures revealed by the Irish Examiner last October, however, show that they secured almost seven-out-of-10 of the 40,000 places filled by the CAO in 2007, with mature students, further education qualification holders and previous third-level students making up the remainder of successful applicants.

The examinations commission has also revealed an increase in students availing of the Leaving Certificate Applied option, up to 3,615 from 3,305 this time last year and 3,155 in 2006.

There is a slight fall in the number of entries for the 2008 Junior Certificate. There are currently 58,741 entries — 1,110 fewer than a year ago.

This year’s Leaving Certificate sees the introduction of a revised ordering of subjects in the first week to ease pressure on students. The writing-intensive papers in English will be held on the first two days instead of being combined on the first day and both Irish papers will be taken in week two. Previously the first Irish exam was held during the first week.

However, a plan by Education Minister Mary Hanafin to bring the first English exam forward to a Saturday in May instead of June has been put on hold for another year at least as they are opposed by school managers who have raised concerns about disruption to other school activities.

The oral exams for Leaving Certificate languages will be held after schools reopen on April 7 because Easter falls earlier than usual this year.