College points system - Consider the alternatives

Record Leaving Certificate grades this year should be warmly welcomed.

An unprecedented proportion of over 30% of the students received more than 400 out of a possible 600 points this year.

Thus, the points required for a place in most of the degree courses at the country’s third-level institutions has been driven up. Pressure for places has been compounded by the increased number of mature students returning to education, as a result of losing their jobs in the economic downturn.

Almost 47,000 people are being offered one of their selected courses this morning by the Central Applications Office, most of whom sat the Leaving Certificate this year.

The current controversy over the points system is likely to continue.

The system is certainly not perfect.

Various alternatives should be carefully considered, along with the warning of those guidance counsellors who contend that the points system is the fairest and most transparent method of selection.