Students should have say in changing points system

THE reduction of two years of effort by a Leaving Cert student, across a broad spectrum of subjects, to a single CAO points figure is a crude system — it can never reflect the diversity of their talents and achievements.

Furthermore, the widening gulf between the highest scorers and the lowest in the system, along with all the associated publicity, should be of grave concern to all.

The points system primarily serves the third-level sector. It is an objective system and colleges don’t have to manage their own admissions system other than coming up with the number of points for entry to each course and the matriculation requirements followed by a number of rounds of offers.

Rather than the current reductive points system why not introduce a more nuanced requirement for entry to college? A specific weighting of subjects for entry to particular courses is one option. Other possibilities include the recognition of project work, essay competitions, science exhibitions, work experience, continuous assessment and community work as a part of a general portfolio.

Students have a great knack for knowing when a system is fair. Perhaps we should ask them what changes they would suggest.

RA Hackett

Crosthwaite Park East

Dun Laoghaire

Co Dublin