Madam, – Kathleen Lynch (Opinion, September 24th) opposes a mathematics bonus for university entry on gender grounds: ie because it favours males.
In 2010 a higher proportion of female candidates got Honours in Higher-level mathematics. Furthermore in 2010 of the 4,200-plus students who got an A grade in Ordinary level mathematics over 60 per cent were female. If bonus points attracted even half of these to Higher level then females would constitute more than half of those benefiting from a bonus award. This should cheer up Ms Lynch up!
Ms Lynch also claims that awarding a mathematics bonus is “ill-founded scientifically”. The facts are that, uniquely among subjects, achievement in school Leaving Cert mathematics is a very good predictor of success at higher-level studies generally.
Ms Lynch identifies the need for the professional development of mathematics teachers. Bonus points should give a strong incentive for this and for the improvement of school mathematics performance generally. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Kathleen Lynch complains that bonus points for Leaving Cert mathematics would unfairly favour boys. I don’t recall any complaints from the equality sector concerning the current system, where students applying for university generally have to take three languages, the field where girls most excel. For example, the respective male/female A1 figures for English, Irish, French and Maths in the Higher paper in 2010 were: 474/815, 173/502, 324/572 and 395/219. Why has everyone heretofore been silent on this issue? – Yours, etc,