Coughlan backs bonus points for maths

EDUCATION Minister Mary Coughlan has given her backing to a bonus points system for higher Leaving Certificate maths to encourage more students to take up the subject at third level.

The Tánaiste told the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) annual conference in Clare yesterday that more needed to be done to reverse the falling number of science and maths graduates.

Her predecessor, Batt O’Keeffe, who set up a group of experts to review the country’s performance in maths, had initially been opposed to the idea. But Ms Coughlan said there was a need to take steps in the right direction.