Computer body slams points system

The Irish Computer Society has called for dramatic changes in computing education at second level in order to protect the future of the IT industry in Ireland.

The Irish Computer Society has slammed the Leaving Cert points system, claiming it "can discourage students from taking technical subjects".

A report drawn up for the ICS by Professor Michael Ryan, Professor of Computing, Dublin City University said: "The present points system is unsound. It confuses the academic standard achieved and the competitive performance in the "points race".