Concern at fall in higher maths numbers

FEWER students are taking higher level maths despite Government efforts to reverse the trend of recent years.

The grades achieved by the Leaving Certificate class of 2009 show a welcome drop in numbers failing ordinary level maths, but a continuation of the falling level of interest in the tougher exam.

In 2006, just under one in five sat the higher level paper but that proportion has continued to fall, with fewer than one in six taking it this June.