Leaving Cert results - Decline in maths results a concern

SOME 57,500 people received their Leaving Certificate results yesterday. The high failure in mathematics is again a cause for real concern.

Only 16% of the 51,991 pupils sitting maths took the higher level paper in the Leaving Certificate this year. By not sitting the honours paper, pupils automatically excluded themselves from many third-level science, engineering and technology courses.

A proficiency in maths is essential for working in high-tech industries, which are performing strongest in job creation. Like the succession of education ministers before him, Ruairí Quinn admitted that much work must be done to increase the number of students taking higher-level maths.