The number of students applying to sit the Leaving Certificate for the first time this year has decreased by almost 1,300, latest figures from the State Examinations Commission (SEC) have revealed.
Some third-level institutions are already struggling to fill certain courses as a result of the drop in numbers sitting the Leaving Certificate for the first time.
However, in a sign of the continuing difficulties which they face, a total of 53,120 new students have registered to take the exam, which begins in two weeks. This compares with 54, 424 such students last year, and some 58,300 in 2000.
The figures, released at the launch of the SEC's inaugural annual report yesterday, include students on VTOS/PLC courses and on the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme. However, the final figure could be even smaller, as approximately 5,000 of these are external candidates, some of whom may not be first time candidates.
Another 3,600 students are sitting Leaving Certificate Applied exams, while about 3,000 are classified as repeat candidates.
The total cost of running the SEC, which was established in March 2003, will be approximately €52 million this year, a document circulated at the launch also revealed.
Final year graduates could be used to examine several Junior Certificate subjects due to a shortage of suitable candidates, the meeting also heard.
However, speaking afterwards to The Irish Times, Mr Aidan Farrell, director of operations with the SEC, said it estimated that the only subject which would be affected was home economics.
While the SEC had re-advertised for examiners in subjects such as English, French, geography and religion, it did not now anticipate any difficulties finding examiners for these subjects. Students of the Leaving Certificate would not be affected by the shortfall in examiners, he added.
Mr Jimmy Farrelly, chairman of the SEC, told the meeting he believed the ongoing debate on the future of the Leaving Certificate examination, which included the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment's (NCCA) review of the senior cycle and the Department's YES consultation process, would yield "many interesting recommendations".
"We recognise the need for change and are committed to playing an active role in the change process," he said.
"We intend to work in co-operation with the education partners, especially the Department of Education and Science and the NCCA."
Among the syllabuses being examined for the first time at Leaving Certificate level are biology, home economics and Arabic, he added.