Madam, - Dr James Fryar (June 25th) bemoans the small numbers taking physics or chemistry at Leaving Certificate level, and suggests that the only remedy is to reintroduce fees at third level. As we know, when Minister Noel Dempsey proposed this some years ago, it got a very cool reception.
Dr Fryar disagrees with the other proposal of offering bonus points for those taking maths, physics and chemistry on the basis that the percentages of students achieving an A in higher maths, physics and chemistry were 15.4, 21.4 and 20.8 respectively, in contrast to many other subjects with lower percentages of A grades.
But as a scientist, Dr Fryar should be aware that bare statistics can obscure the true picture. I have experience of teaching chemistry and biology in a second-level school with an open enrolment policy for 30 years. Approximately 100 students would sit the Leaving Certificate in any given year. Of those, 50 might opt for biology, but it would be a good year if even 10 chose chemistry, physics or higher level maths. The point is that those 10 students would be the "high flyers", the more able and more highly motivated students, who would very likely achieve an A, or at least a high grade, in whichever subject they would choose.
In other words, the comparatively high percentage of A grades in some science subjects are achieved by a small cohort of highly motivated students, and the lower percentages of high grades in other subjects such as biology or Irish are an inevitable result of the much larger numbers sitting those subjects. The fact is that most students perceive higher level maths, physics and chemistry as inherently difficult. It should be remembered that they will have been introduced to those subjects at junior level.
Perhaps then, the proposal by the Expert Skills Group of bonus points for some subjects should be given serious consideration. It may not solve the problem but it would certainly encourage a greater uptake at Leaving Certificate, which ultimately might be reflected at third level. - Yours, etc,
BILL SILKE,
Beach Court,
Grattan Road,
Galway.