Simon Harris backs overhaul of Leaving Cert and college admissions system

The Further Education Minister was speaking a day after the CAO offers were issued, with some students missing out on their preferred course despite getting top marks

Simon Harris: "You could be really bad at certain subjects that you must do in secondary school, and you can still make a really good doctor." Photo: Maxwells

There "must be a better way" to decide on third-level admissions than the Leaving Cert, the Minister for Further Education has said.

Speaking in Dublin on Wednesday, Simon Harris said he is not sure the current exam and points race is "the right way to go", referring to the fact that a number of students who achieved maximum marks in the Leaving Cert could still miss out on their preferred course due to their being more students applying than places available.