David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on a recent recommendation by the National Competitiveness Council that bonus points for higher level leaving certificate mathematics should be given immediate consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12192/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Decisions on the award of points and admission criteria for entry to higher education programmes are, under legislation, a matter for the higher education institutions. My Department asked the Higher Education Authority to initiate a discussion across higher education institutions regarding the desirability or otherwise of awarding bonus points. The overall view emerging was that the introduction of bonus points was unlikely to dramatically increase uptake of higher level maths.

The report of the Points Commission in 1999 considered the issue of bonus points and advised against such an approach on the grounds that it would lead to a narrowing of the range of subjects taken by students, create pressure on students to make early career choices, give rise to equity issues where the subject was not available and lead to distortions in third level access and provision. When bonus points were removed in 1994 on foot of curricular reform, participation in higher level maths increased. Curriculum reform has more impact than points in this area.

I recently launched a major initiative, Project Maths, designed to encourage better understanding of maths, reinforce the practical relevance of maths to everyday life, and ensure better continuity between primary and second level and junior and senior cycle. The initiative started in 2008 and is being piloted in 24 schools. The curriculum changes will be phased in over three years and mainstreaming in all schools will begin in 2010, prefaced by a national programme of professional development for teachers beginning in 2009. The changes under Project Maths are proceeding simultaneously at junior and senior cycle to allow for optimum progress in implementing the reforms. The reforms are also designed to encourage greater uptake at higher level.

Project Maths will be supported by intensive investment in professional development for teachers. A mathematics support team has been appointed and is currently supporting the project schools, as well as preparing for mainstream in-service development which will start in September 2009, followed by mainstream implementation starting in September 2010. Some €3 million has been provided for the programme in 2009 and the investment will continue over a number of years, to at least 2013, in a rolling programme of reform.

Education provision must cater for all students, and placing some subjects at a higher value, notwithstanding the importance of other disciplines, and the abilities, interests and legitimate choices of students, could potentially be counterproductive.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The question refers to the recent recommendation of the National Competitiveness Council for the immediate awarding of bonus points for mathematics. The uptake of mathematics is crucial for the future of the economy. It feeds into financial services, sciences, engineering and IT. Only 17% of students take the higher-level leaving certificate mathematics examination and similar figures are reflected in the students taking it at junior certificate.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A question please.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister take note of the National Competitiveness Council report? Has he had any engagement with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment? There should be some crossover between that Department and the Department of Education and Science. Uptake of mathematics is essential and unless we focus on it we will not develop the cohort of graduates necessary for the Government's knowledge economy.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Obviously one takes note of all the reports. IBEC has indicated that it would recommend awarding bonus points. The council, itself, came out with the report during the week with its indications. All of the relevant information suggests that understanding mathematical concepts is far more important for children. Having curricular reform is far more important——

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Why not do both?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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——in the longer term.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We do not have time for the long-term solutions.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Allow the Minister to reply.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I ask Deputies to consider the University of Limerick and DIT. They are awarding bonus points. There is no indication that there is an increase in the uptake of mathematics in their degree courses. I believe it is appropriate to introduce curricular reform and bring about a better understanding of the mathematical concepts. It is not appropriate to put mathematics as a singular entity out there, indicating that it is a particular subject and making it less appealing to the students.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The idea is to attract students.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As I said in my reply, this is a matter for the third level institutions. I have asked the Higher Education Authority to liaise with the universities and the institutes. They do not favour the introduction of a bonus points system for mathematics.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree that part of the problem is that students are afraid of failing the higher level leaving certificate mathematics examination? If they fail higher-level leaving certificate mathematics they are immediately disqualified from many third level courses. Does the Minister have any research information on the number of students who study to higher level standard and then on the day of the examination opt to take the ordinary level paper? Is there a problem that needs to be addressed and does he have any suggestions for addressing such a problem?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Obviously Project Maths and the roll-out of the new curriculum are extremely important. The circumstances relating to a new primary level mathematics curriculum has been very fruitful. Rolling out Project Maths into the secondary level and giving mathematics teachers the associated in-service training are fundamental. There has been low participation in mathematics at the higher level. The uptake at higher level was 17% in 2008 when we would expect an uptake of 20% to 25%. Obviously that is what we are trying to achieve. It is also important to note that we have the junior science curriculum. We have the discover science and engineering programme. We have a promotion in terms of understanding mathematics itself and the sciences in general. We hope to increase participation levels through curricular reform. I recently met the president of Stanford University, which feeds into the Silicon Valley firms. The number of people taking mathematics as a subject is also a problem for that university. The attractiveness of mathematics as a subject is a worldwide phenomenon.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister used the word "hope". We need more than the hope that curricular reform will work. Project Maths is being piloted in 24 schools at the moment. How long it will take to roll out and have an impact? We are staring into an abyss. I spoke to representatives of Engineers Ireland during the recent engineers week. They are seriously concerned over the number of students attracted to the sciences, engineering and mathematics. Finland identified a problem with mathematics. The authorities trained teachers and put them on a different level, if one likes. They focused on supporting mathematics because the economy needed it. In that regard the Minister has a very important role to play along with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Project Maths is not a hope. It will be a reality. Project Maths will encourage a far greater understanding and will certainly reinforce the practical relevance of mathematics to everyday life. It will ensure a better continuity between the primary curriculum and the second level one. The initiative commenced in 2008. As we speak it is being piloted in 24 schools. The curriculum changes will be phased in over three years. Mainstreaming will begin in 2010 in all schools prefaced by a national programme of professional development for teachers which has begun in 2009.