Séighin Ó Ceallaigh

There have been plenty of questions and concerns raised regarding this year’s leaving cert since its cancellation. But leaving aside this year’s leaving cert, now is the time that we should be looking at the whole system of transitioning from second level to third level education. The current points system is flawed, as it focuses on overall results, rather than suitability for third level courses. A wide range of subject choices, and most students taking seven or eight subjects for their final secondary exam, means that students are assessed based on how they perform overall, rather than looking at the necessary subjects for their third level choices. A narrowing of subject choices, and the complete freedom of choice for subjects, would allow fifth and sixth year students to begin focusing on their future career path. The idea of mandatory subjects for the leaving cert belongs in the bin. Two particular subjects come to mind for me, maths and French. I have never used the compli