asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of dissatisfaction amongst teachers and candidates with the honours mathematics papers in this year's intermediate examination caused by the considerable variation between the standard of the sample papers issued to schools by his Department and the actual examination papers; and if steps will be taken to give due allowance to candidates in respect of this difficulty, particularly in view of the fact that these were the first tests in the new mathematics courses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Honours Mathematics Examination Paper.
37.
I assume the question relates to the leaving certificate and not to the intermediate certificate examination as no sample papers were issued to schools in connection with the intermediate certificate examination.
In framing the honours leaving certificate papers in mathematics the standard of the sample papers was adhered to as far as could be reasonably expected. In addition, in the examination papers there was a wider choice of question than in the sample papers.
A sample analysis of candidates' worked answer books indicates that an appropriate standard has been maintained.
That the standard of the sample paper was adhered to is evidenced by the fact that very few adverse comments have been received in my Department.
As is customary, all relevant factors will be taken into account in the marking of the candidates' worked answer books.
Is the Minister aware that many secondary teachers have expressed considerable alarm at the variation between the sample paper and syllabus on the one hand and the examination papers themselves, and not only as to the standard but as to the sequence? Is he aware that students turned up to sit for examinations in leaving certificate mathematics expecting that in the first paper a certain series of questions would be asked and that in fact the series on the first paper were totally different from what they had been led to expect by the sample papers, causing, perhaps, a certain amount of terror in the minds of candidates? Would the Minister ensure that in future an effort is made to maintain the sequence which people are led to believe will exist in the examination papers?
I am not aware that there has been any widespread dissatisfaction with this paper. In fact, my Department has received only three complaints and the report from the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland has been generally favourable. As I said, the choice given to the candidates was wider than in the sample papers and tests we have made on the written answer books show that the proportion of honours and failures is almost the same as it was last year, so that I do not think there is any validity in the suggestion that students were upset in any way by the form of the paper, which, incidentally, I am not aware, and cannot accept, was of the nature suggested by the Deputy.
Will the Minister do something about improving communications between himself and the teaching profession because the number of complaints I have got exceeds the number he says he has received? Perhaps that is because they would expect more sympathetic consideration from me.
Mr. O'Leary
Could the Minister clear up the question of any discrepancy between the sample paper and the examination paper?
Communications and relations between the Department of Education and the teachers have never been better than they are now. They are very close and the Deputy may take it that if teachers have views to express on matters such as this, they will not hesitate to express them to me or to my Department. I have told the Deputy what we received and the report of the ASTI was generally favourable in this matter.