Ivan Yates
Question:159 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconstitute the leaving certificate points commission. [22944/01]
Written Answers. - Commission on the Points System.
The Final Report of the Commission on the Points System, which was published in December 1999, represented the culmination of two years of intensive research, discussion and debate on the system of selection for entry to third level education.
The report recommends that the points system be retained on the basis that it is well established, is broadly fair and transparent and is generally accepted by the public at large.
All third level institutions set down basic entry requirements for courses they offer and the Commission on the Points System noted that these basic entry requirements differ somewhat in different colleges. In this regard, the commission recommended that, as far as possible, the institutions should endeavour to ensure that the basic entry requirements across the system are similar. In addition, entry to a small number of courses requires specified grades in certain subjects. The commission recognised that the setting of entry requirements is a key part of the academic freedom of third level institutions. Nevertheless, it recommended that special subject requirements for similar courses should not differ to any great extent and that there should be consultation between my Department and/or the National Council for Curriculum Assessment and the Higher Education Authority before new special entry requirements are introduced by the institutions.
The Higher Education Authority has been requested to pursue these recommendations with the relevant institutions and I expect to receive a progress report in this regard shortly. In the circumstances, I am sure the Deputy will agree that there is no necessity at present to reconstitute the Commission on the Points System.