Written Answers. - State Examinations.
Louis J. Belton
Question:
172
Mr. Belton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the steps he will take to arrest the decline in the number of students studying science at second and third level and the increasing failure rates in these subjects.
[22943/01]
I established the task force on the physical sciences at both second and third level in October 2000. The brief of the task force is to identify the issues contributing to the falling uptake of the physical sciences and to recommend additional measures to address these issues. The task force submitted its interim report to me in July 2001, and I expect to receive a final report early in the new year.
A number of institutes of technology have initiated a variety of schemes to encourage students to pursue third level science related courses. These initiatives include local advertising campaigns, career talks at second level schools, induction science days, taster summer school for fifth year students, tutorial support in specific science subject areas and a range of advisory services. Another interesting development is the physics website operated by the Department of Physics in Trinity College Dublin which aims to counter the negative image that physics has among schoolchildren.
At second level, the uptake of science in the junior cycle has remained constant at just under 90% for a number of years. I have undertaken the following steps to address the decline in uptake of the sciences at senior cycle. Revised syllabi in leaving certificate physics and leaving certificate chemistry were introduced in September 2000, for first examination in June 2002. A new biology syllabus will be introduced in September 2002 for first examination in June 2004. A new format of examination paper in ordinary level junior certificate science was introduced in the 2000 examination. In leaving certificate physics and chemistry the structure and layout of questions on the ordinary level papers has been revised. A comprehensive in-career development programme for teachers of physics and chemistry was put in place in September 1999 and is designed to run for three years. An in-career development programme for teachers of biology has been put in place in the current school year. Additional grants for the purchase of laboratory equipment, including ICT equipment, are being provided for schools. Schools that currently have a capital project in architectural planning will have their science laboratories upgraded as an integral element of the capital project. A special annual per capita grant of £10 for pupils taking leaving certificate physics and leaving certificate chemistry has been introduced. A revised structure for the junior certificate science syllabus is under consideration by an NCCA course committee. This revision is giving particular attention to the physics and chemistry content of the course. It is proposed that the revised syllabus will be implemented in September 2002.
The percentages of candidates obtaining less than a D grade in junior certificate science and in each of the three main leaving certificate science subjects, chemistry, biology and physics, are shown in the following table. The table shows the data for the higher level, HL, and ordinary level, OL, in each of the four subjects for the years 1999 to 2001.
|
Year
|
JCScience
|
LCChemistry
|
LCBiology
|
LCPhysics
|
|
HL
|
OL
|
HL
|
OLHLOLHLOL
|
|
1999
|
7.1
|
10.1
|
8.1
|
13.68.022.19.315.2
|
|
2000
|
8.7
|
4.3
|
7.9
|
6.87.821.97.514.6
|
|
2001
|
5.1
|
2.6
|
7.8
|
10.58.822.610.413.4
|
The table shows that, in junior certificate science, the percentages of candidates obtaining less than a D grade are significantly lower this year than in the previous years. This is particularly so in relation to the ordinary level, reflecting the impact of the revised format examination paper introduced in 2000.
In leaving certificate chemistry and leaving certificate physics the percentages obtaining the lower grades on the ordinary level papers this year are significantly below the 1999 figures. The 1999 figures were in turn much lower than the historical figure for these two papers, which on average was of the order of 20%. This reflects improvements to the structure and layout of the questions on these papers, which were designed to make them more accessible to the candidates. At higher level the percentage for chemistry is very similar to previous years. In physics the per centage is higher than in the previous years; however, it is still below the historical average of approximately 11%. New syllabi in these subjects will be examined for the first time next year.
In leaving certificate biology the percentages obtaining the lower grades this year are somewhat higher than in the previous two years, though in the case of the higher level the figure is still below the historical average of approximately 10%. It is expected that the new biology syllabus, to be examined for the first time in 2004, will prove more accessible to candidates.
