Leaving Cert: home economics:"A return to tradition" was how one teacher described yesterday's Leaving Certificate home economics higher paper.

The exam was welcomed by supporters of a subject that has lost 20 per cent of students since a new syllabus was introduced four years ago. "There were no twists in this paper; it was surprisingly straightforward," said Institute of Education home economics teacher Sandra Cleary.

"Most importantly, questions two to five each concentrated on a single topic, instead of drawing in a range of subjects as they have done over the last three years."

The home economics syllabus is notoriously broad, covering topics from nutrition and health to finance and consumer rights. Students are also asked to tackle fashion and interior design.

Under the new syllabus, teachers and students complain that the course load is too heavy.

With the addition of a journal to be submitted prior to the exam, the workload was putting off potential students and even prompted some students to drop the subject, teachers say.

"If the trend of today's paper continues, it will have a bearing on the way we deliver the course in the classroom and should go some way to addressing the fall in numbers," said Ms Cleary.

The compulsory long question one at higher level was on a predicted topic - the importance of folic acid in the diet and the concept of food fortification. It was followed by sections on coronary heart disease and diet, and on the sensory analysis of food.

The elective question, on housing, was unexpected, since this topic has come up on this section for the last three years and students were expecting something different.

Five out of six students take home economics at higher level. One in twelve is male.

Yesterday's ordinary level paper was welcomed for its simplicity. "Any student who had kept up during the year should have done very well on this paper," one teacher remarked.