Leaving Certificate - Vital to ensure strong talent pool

In the global economy it is important that outside concerns about the Leaving Certificate results in this country should be addressed.

Joanne Richardson, chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce, warned that American business people are concerned about the continuing decline in the performance of Irish pupils in the area of mathematics.

Our educational system is a key to attracting and retaining foreign direct investment in this country. It is vital that we have a strong talent pool coming out of our second-level schools, and entering our third-level institutions. There were positive signs from the results of the students in the 24 schools that took the first examination in the pilot scheme for Project Maths this year. More students sat the higher-level paper and the overall failure rate was distinctly lower.

As the new approach is rolled out to other schools, there are hopes that it will arrest and even reverse the decline that has been apparent in maths in recent years. This could be further helped by the introduction of bonus points for maths. Now that the Leaving Certificate results are out, the focus is turning towards the race to get into third-level education. This should be a stepping-stone for people to acquire the necessary skills for a satisfactory career in many fields. Incentives should be put in place to encourage people to enter the appropriate areas of study from which they will emerge with the qualifications to provide a fulfilled living for themselves while helping to meet the needs of our economy.

This year there is an added mix in the race for third-level places, in that there is a distinct increase in the number of mature students looking for places. Many of those who went straight into the work force without seeking third-level qualifications during the Celtic Tiger years, are now returning to education because they are out of a job.

In some respects this could be a blessing, because they are likely to be more focused in knowing their own minds about what they wish to get out of a third-level education. Their return should therefore be welcomed, and the Department of Education ought to ensure the necessary funding is in place.

Steps need be taken to encourage these people to acquire the education and skills necessary to develop our economic recovery. Rather than just waiting for something to happen, they would be positioning themselves to avail of an upturn in the economy and even help to generate it.