asked the Minister for Education the number of students who sat the first arts examination at the conclusion of the summer term 1969 in UCD, UCG, UCC and TCD; and the percentage failure rate per college.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - First Arts Examination.
89.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the summer first arts examinations is as follows:—
|
Numbers who sat |
Percentage who failed to pass the examination as a whole |
|
|
University College, Dublin |
1,289 |
45 |
|
University College, Cork |
400 |
31 |
|
University College, Galway |
408 |
33.6 |
|
Trinity College |
309 |
42 |
Many of the students who failed to pass the examination as a whole passed in at least two subjects. All will have an opportunity of repeating the examination in the autumn.
In view of the improved standards required for the entry of students to the universities last year, do these figures not perturb the Minister a little? In my opinion, a failure figure in the region of 40 per cent in an examination is not a reasonable figure. May I suggest this to the Minister: if he examines the expenditure on different faculties he will find that the failure rate is higher in the faculties in which the expenditure per student is lowest. Perhaps the Minister would have a look at that aspect of the matter?
These seem to be appalling figures in relation to the three university colleges — 30, 30 and 40 per cent and then a very much lower percentage in relation to TCD.
No, it is 42 per cent.
UCD and TCD are very much higher.
Is it due to the fact that there is some alteration in the standards due to the shortage of places for students? Is the standard being changed in order to try to reduce the number of entrants or is it a general failure due to relative illiteracy?
I am sure the Deputy is aware that these students will get an opportunity of doing the examination again in the autumn and it is fair to assume that the percentage of failures will go down considerably.
Why should it?
The students will have an opportunity of doing more study during the summer vacation.
I wonder could the Minister explain the fact that the two Dublin colleges have a very much higher failure rate than those outside Dublin?
Mr. J. Lenehan
There are no "jackeens" outside the city of Dublin.
The Minister did not quite deal with my point. Is the Minister not perturbed that, with the raising of the standard to two honours at UCD last year, the percentage of failure should be so high? With the raising of the standard most people felt that the percentage of failures would go down very much but this does not seem to be the case.
Could the Minister tell us how many boys and girls will lose their scholarships?
That is a separate question.
That is not covered here. We will probably have to wait until after the autumn examination to know that. With regard to the other supplementary question, there could be many and varied reasons for this but I shall look into it.
I thank the Minister.