Maths failure equals worrying trend

THE number of Leaving Certificate students who have failed ordinary level maths has jumped by more than 10% since last year — with more than one-in- eight getting an E grade or lower.

The worrying trend follows a rise in the failure rate in each of the past two years and is the highest rate of E to “no grade” marks awarded in more than five years.

The 4,403 who did not pass ordinary level maths compares to 4,033 last year and 4,002 in 2006.