Science subjects get Leaving Cert lift from astronaut Chris Hadfield

Astronaut Chris Hadfield’s ability to make his adventures in space accessible to a wider audience has been credited by a minister for a large increase in the number of Leaving Certificate students choosing physics and other science subjects.

State Examinations Commission figures show that numbers planning to take physics are up 11% from 6,656 a year ago to 7,415, with students planning to take higher level papers making up most of the increase.

Chemistry students are also on the rise, although the 5% jump to 8,867 since March 2013 is just a little higher than the proportional increase in total Leaving Certificate entries. Biology remains one of the most popular subjects, and the 4% increase in students entered for it to almost 33,700 mirrors the rise in overall student numbers.

The SEC currently has a predicted entry figure of 54,813 for the Leaving Certificate, over 2,000 more than sat exams last year, but several hundred may end up not going ahead in June.

Research and Innovation Minister Seán Sherlock welcomed the rises for science subjects of physics and chemistry. “I believe there’s definitely a public mood swing towards scientific endeavour,” said Mr Sherlock. “People’s imaginations have been captured by figures like Commander Chris Hadfield and the popularisation of science on television and online media.

“By popularising it in that way, students are now realising they can go into a myriad of careers; everything from the biotech industry to ICT and physics maps into that pattern.”

Mr Sherlock said students are realising that the harder sciences underpin so much of what is happening in Ireland’s economy that is increasingly driven by hi-tech industries. However, events such as the BT Young Scientist and the Scifest fairs at institutes of technology are also helping, he said.

“There’s definitely a growing confidence around maths and science, and to my mind the bonus points for maths has drawn more people who previously might not have felt confident about taking on maths to do so because of the experience of Project Maths,” said Mr Sherlock.

The numbers aiming to take on higher Leaving Certificate maths are continuing to increase, with 17,181 currently entered through the SEC to do so. That is up from 14,520 this time last year, and almost 40% more than the 12,400 entered for higher level in March 2012.

Around 13,000 students sat the honours maths papers when the exams came around in June, accounting for 26% of all maths students, an increase from 16% in just two years. This has been mainly prompted by the 25 bonus points those who pass now get towards college entry from the Central Applications Office.

National Association of Principal and Deputy Principals director Clive Byrne said there is a potential dilemma for schools to have enough suitably qualified teachers for more honours maths classes if the trend continues.

However, the Department of Education has said it is satisfied that postgraduate courses it has arranged for maths teachers will improve qualification levels sufficiently.