Report: Academic standards slipping

ACADEMIC standards are being allowed to slide, according to the author of research that shows a doubling in top grades awarded by institutes of technology.

The proportion of first-class honours awarded by the institutes of technology to level 8 degree students rose from just over 8% in 1994 to more than 17% in 2008. A similar percentage were given top grades for ordinary degrees (up from 12.8% in 1994) and almost one-in-four higher certificate graduates received first-class honours compared with less than one-in-seven 14 years earlier.

Martin O’Grady, author of the research, said the increases come despite a lower academic standard of students starting IoT courses in recent years, as evidenced by falling Leaving Certificate points needed for courses at many of the 14 colleges.