FIANNA Fail has called for a fundamental review of the points system for entry to third level education, saying it places young people under an unacceptable level of stress.
The stress involved in the race for college points was affecting young people's physical and psychological health, the Fianna Fail education spokesman, Mr Micheal Martin, told a party conference on education.
Earlier the party leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, had called for the introduction of a system of "weighted preference" for disadvantaged and disabled students wanting to enter third level.
Mr Ahern told the conference in Tallaght that Fianna Fail in government would begin a major drive to bring all those who were excluded into the education system. It was "unacceptable" that up to 15,000 young people a year should leave school early or achieve poor results in the Leaving Cert.
He criticised the introduction by the Minister for Education of tax relief on part time courses as "of no use whatsoever" to the long term unemployed or those unable to afford the fees.
Mr Martin accused Ms Breathnach of engaging in an "unnecessary undermining of the role and status of the teacher in Irish society". The demand for an extra 15 hours' productivity was perceived as an insult.
"It implied and suggested that teachers were not putting in extra hours after class contact hours. It gave no recognition whatsoever to the extracurricular activities that teachers are engaged in throughout the country.
Mr Kevin Lewis of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors told the conference that every student should be required to take a practical subject.
