Sir, – The Department of Education’s new policy to strive to be as novel as possible with Leaving Certificate higher level maths, and its decision to introduce alternative ways to phrase questions has caused shock and upset to many a student today.
Aidan Roantree’s comment in The Irish Times (“Leaving Cert maths paper 1: A challenging paper”, June 9th) that “once students overcame the ‘wow’ reaction, they could really get to grips with the questions” seems a big assumption on behalf of all students. “Asking questions which probe students’ understanding of concepts” is a wonderful education tool but perhaps the department could at least have introduced this earlier in the two-year curriculum rather than leaving it until the final two and a half hour examination? Teach first, examine later. – Yours, etc,
ORLA SCHOFIELD,
Galway.
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A chara,– The dissatisfaction with Paper I Maths has been dominating our national radio programmes.
Parents and teachers depicting the frustration, anger, disappointment and despair of their Leaving Cert kids has been reported and broadcasted.
I totally empathise with these parents and teachers but as a retired Deis school principal, my concern is about the unlevel playing pitch on which this exam is played.
The majority of non-Deis participants in this exam will have the benefit of grinds in the subjects in which they are struggling. However, my past pupils will, by and large, not have that extra help available to them.
I wish them all the best but if I can be so bold, more so to the kids from Deis schools. – Is mise,
PAT BURKE WALSH,
Former principal,
St Peter Apostle SNS,
Neilstown.