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.