Overhaul will benefit students, says union

PROPOSED reforms of the college entry points system should bring major benefits for second-level students, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has claimed.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has backed the recommendations of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, which are aimed at removing the pressure on students to get top Leaving Certificate grades for college courses.

However, the plans may involve fewer grade divisions as well as a narrower choice of first-year courses for college applicants.

John MacGabhann, general secretary of the TUI, said such a broad-based introductory college year would allow students to make more informed and mature decisions regarding specialisation in the second year of courses and beyond.

He said it could potentially clear much confusion in relation to the CAO process for Leaving Certificate students, who have over 800 degrees to choose from.

“There is a feeling that students are being forced to choose too early from a spectrum that has become increasingly wide and more arcane in recent years. This measure should relieve some of the more extreme pressures that the current points system gives rise to, particularly in relation to high demand courses,” said Mr MacGabhann, who will take over as union boss as Peter MacMenamin retires today.

He said the broader exam grading system should relieve pressures felt by many students who put themselves “at the mercy of the grinds school industry with its limited focus on maximising points and its profit-making agenda”.

Further research on a number of areas, including possible restrictions on entry to medicine and other professional courses to graduates only, will also be carried out. Mr Quinn has urged that these be carried out quickly.

Consideration will also be given to requiring all students to count their English and maths results toward their CAO points, as part of wider efforts to promote improvements in literacy and numeracy. The report proposes that schools should share teachers and facilities, with greater use of technology suggested as an aid to reforming assessment methods.