FG hits out at Leaving Cert biology exam

Fine Gael Education spokesman Olwyn Enright TD today called on the Department of Education to address the concerns raised over yesterday's Leaving Certificate biology exam by both students and teachers.

Students were asked to describe an experiment on a protected species in the exam..

"One of the most worrying aspects of the exam paper was a question referring to an experiment on frog tadpoles.

"The use of frogs or tadpoles for experimentation is illegal in this country so any student who could describe it first-hand would have, at some stage, been part of an illegal act.

"The level of anguish throughout the country as a result of the leaving cert higher level biology exam is alarming. The uptake of science subjects by students is dropping dramatically and there is widespread recognition that this fall-off must be reversed.

"The problems with the biology exam will only act to further discourage students from the sciences. Some students hoping to enter nursing after the leaving cert now fear they will be unable to do so having not performed very well in the exam.

"The leaving certificate examination is clearly out of touch. The department must now investigate this fiasco thoroughly.

"These exams should present an opportunity for students to display their hard work in preparing for the exams," he said.