asked the Minister for Education if he will state with reference to a reply of 18th October whether it is usual that, in the case of those presenting themselves for mathematics in the leaving certificate examination, less than twenty per cent elect to sit for the honours paper, and that less than eight per cent of the total presenting pass the examination with honours; if it is possible to compare these results with results from any other western European country; and why the number passing with honours is so low.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teaching Certificate Mathematics Examination.
56.
Mr. O'Malley
Over the past ten years the average percentage of candidates at the leaving certificate who took the honours paper in mathematics was 18.1 per cent, and the average percentage of the total number who passed with honours in the subject was 9.3 per cent.
It is not possible to compare directly these results with the results from other European countries as different systems of education, syllabuses and examinations exist in these countries. Some European countries have one syllabus for the non-scientific stream and another syllabus for the scientific stream. In Sweden, the authorities expect that 15 per cent to 20 per cent of all students in the same age group would follow the new scientific line syllabus in the upper cycle, which would be equivalent to the group taking honours mathematics in this country.
The number passing with honours in mathematics is low in relation to other subjects as there are many pupils not normally competent to follow the honours course. These would include the 37 per cent who elect to take elementary mathematics at the intermediate certificate examination. The profitable study of mathematics calls for an aptitude and an ability that does not apply to the study of some of the other subjects.