High points: Science could be next to offer a bonus to Leaving Cert students

The education minister has said that offering extra Leaving Cert points to students who sit Science subjects is a possibility.

THE EDUCATION MINISTER Ruairí Quinn has said that introducing bonus points for Leaving Cert Science students could be on the way.

Next year marks the first that universities will offer bonus points for higher grades in Leaving Cert Maths, and the minister has said that following suit with science subjects could be one way to ensure more students take up Biology, Chemistry and Physics, reports the Irish Times.

Newstalk reports that Quinn will see how the Maths scheme goes before considering it for science subjects. Students who sit higher level Maths will get an extra 25 points.

This year saw new lows in the numbers of students taking Honours Maths.

The education minister has said that employers and industry experts have called for incentives for students to study Maths and Science at Leaving Cert level.

According to the Irish Examiner, he said that there needs to be balance in how easy some subjects are to study and the points that are awarded.

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