Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2006
179 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of leaving certificate students taking Irish, French, German, Italian and Spanish who attempted the higher level paper in the most recent examination for which statistics are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34221/06]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations and issuing the results of examinations. The results of examinations are publicised widely in the media and are also available on the Commission's website at www.examinations.ie. Please see following table.
|
Higher Level |
Ordinary |
Foundation |
Subject Total |
% of total candidates |
|
|
Irish |
12,948 |
26,437 |
4,5,43 |
43,928 |
86.2% |
|
% |
29.5% |
60.2% |
10.3% |
||
|
French |
13,421 |
14,388 |
0 |
27,809 |
54.6% |
|
% |
48.3% |
51.7% |
0.0% |
||
|
German |
4,774 |
2,957 |
0 |
7,731 |
15.2% |
|
% |
61.8% |
38.2% |
0.0% |
||
|
Italian |
150 |
92 |
0 |
242 |
0.5% |
|
% |
62.0% |
38.0% |
0.0% |
||
|
Spanish |
1,375 |
996 |
0 |
2,371 |
4.7% |
|
% |
58.0% |
42.0% |
0.0% |
||
|
Maths |
9,018 |
35,112 |
5,104 |
49,234 |
96.6% |
|
% |
18.3% |
71.3% |
10.4% |
||
|
Chemistry |
5,712 |
1,359 |
0 |
7,071 |
13.9% |
|
% |
80.8% |
19.2% |
0.0% |
||
|
Physics |
5,200 |
2,135 |
0 |
7,335 |
14.4% |
|
% |
70.9% |
29.1% |
0.0% |
||
|
Biology |
17,048 |
7,837 |
0 |
24,885 |
48.8% |
|
% |
68.5% |
31.5% |
0.0% |
||
|
Physics+Chemistry |
458 |
124 |
0 |
582 |
1.1% |
|
% |
78.7% |
21.3% |
0.0% |
||
|
Home Economics |
8,200 |
4099 |
0 |
12,299 |
24.1% |
|
% |
66.7% |
33.3% |
0.0% |
Figures exclude Leaving Certificate Applied programme.
Total candidates excluding LCA 50955.
A range of measures are in place to encourage the take up of the physical Sciences at senior cycle building on the success of the investigative approach which is a feature of the revised Junior Certificate science syllabus. These will be further strengthened in the context of the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation 2007 to 2013. In regard to languages, the Post Primary Language Initiative operates to diversify the languages in post primary schools and to move away from the dominance of French as the most commonly taken language. The Initiative promotes Italian, Spanish, Russian and Japanese. Arabic is also available.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is currently undertaking a reconfiguration of subjects in senior cycle to embed key skills, and to provide for a second assessment component. The advice on Phase 1 of this process is due in Spring 2007, and will focus on Mathematics, Science and Languages. A review of languages generally is also under way.
