The number of Junior Cert students taking Irish is continuing to fall, according to figures from the State Exams Commission. Seán Flynn, Education Editor, reports
This year, just over 50,000 students out of a total number of over 56,000 who sat the exam took the subject, compared with almost 54,000 three years ago.
The figures mean Irish is only the sixth most popular subject at Junior Cert level, compared with the long-established pattern when it was second only to English. This year, English, maths, CSPE (civics), history and geography are more popular than Irish. The rise in the number of exemptions is thought to be a contributory factor.
The figures, in advance of today's Junior Cert results, also show high failure rates in maths, science and in several language subjects.
The number of students opting out of Irish in the Junior and Leaving Cert exams has increased by more than 400 per cent in the past decade. As a result, the inspectorate of the Department of Education and Science has ordered a review of the operation of the exemption scheme amid concern that it is being abused. Since 1994, the number of second-level students seeking an exemption in Irish has increased from just over 2 per cent to more than 10 per cent.
Although some of this is due to greater numbers of foreign nationals in Irish schools, the department is said to be troubled. Concerns have also been raised that students in some fee-paying schools are gaining the exemption easily, opting out of Irish and concentrating on other subjects.
The conditions for an exemption from taking Irish as a Junior and Leaving Cert subject include evidence that a student has been living abroad until the age of 11, foreign nationality and learning difficulties. Schools have the authority to award an exemption. In his report for 2001-2004, chief inspector Eamonn Stack says a new circular detailing how students should qualify for an exemption is being prepared.
Meanwhile, high failure rates in maths, science and in several language subjects are the most striking feature of the Junior Cert results published this morning. They mirror the pattern in the Leaving Cert results last month and show a high failure rate across virtually all subjects at ordinary level.
Seven per cent of students failed ordinary level science and another 5 per cent failed the higher level paper despite the introduction of a new syllabus designed to arrest the decline in numbers taking science subjects at Leaving Cert level.
The figures will be seen as further evidence of a crisis in maths. Last month, more than 4,000 students failed Leaving Cert maths, making them ineligible for most third-level courses.
The failure rates in several language subjects at ordinary level in this year's Junior Cert will also cause concern. A high failure rate was also evident in technology (13 per cent), woodwork (7 per cent) metalwork (15 per cent) and technical graphics (8 per cent).
Meanwhile yesterday, amid fears over excesses at tonight's Junior Cert celebrations, teachers' unions and drinks industry bodies called on publicans and off-licence retailers to be careful they do not sell alcohol to under-age students.