There is a substantial improvement in mathematical performance in the Junior Cert this year. Just over 14 per cent of students got an A grade in higher-level papers compared with eight per cent last year. But, the percentage of A grades at higher-level fell in Irish, English, history, French and German. In geography, business studies and science, the proportion of higher-level students gaining As was higher than last year.
As always the percentage of students gaining A grades varies significantly from subject to subject. This year, 11.3 per cent of higher-level Irish students obtained an A compared with five per cent of English students and 14.3 per cent of maths students. In history, 15.4 per cent of higher-level students secured an A grade compared with 8.9 per cent in geography and 13.5 per cent in science.
The minority subjects usually register a very high proportion of A grades and this year was no exception. Over a third of students taking Latin, Greek and Hebrew at higher level obtained an A grade while almost 19 per cent of students taking classical studies also got an A.
The practical subjects tend to register more moderate percentages of A grades at higher-level with 6.4 per cent of metalwork students gaining an A this year, a drop of 2.6 per cent on last year. In materials technology, A grades for higher-level students rose slightly to 8.9 per cent this year while As were also up for technical graphics students with 12.5 per cent of higher-level students gaining an A. In home economics, 7.2 per cent of higher-level students gained an A while 8.6 per cent of technology students got As.
The proportion of students who failed Irish rose for all three levels of student. At higher-level, the percentage rose from three to 4.2 per cent while at ordinary-level the failure rate rose to 12.8 compared with 7.3 per cent last year. The failure rate for foundation-level students climbed from 7.8 to 10.2 per cent. In contrast, failure rates for maths fell at all three levels. In English, failure rates were slightly up on last year's levels.
The Teachers Union of Ireland, The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and the National Parents Council-Post Primary extended their congratulations to more than 68,000 Junior Certificate students who will collect their results in schools today. The TUI president, Alice Prendergast, said that results should be released earlier particularly in view of the wider range of senior cycle programmes (Leaving Cert Applied, Leaving Cert Vocational and the traditional Leaving Cert) from which students now had to choose. The TUI expressed concern for students who drop out before attempting the Junior Certificate or without achieving five passes. The union welcomed the introduction of the Junior Certificate Elementary to cater for these students and called for consideration to be given to the option of an extra year within the junior cycle.
The National Parents Council Post Primary asked that students be given the option of collecting results at school or having them posted home. John Whyte, NPC spokesman, called for the abolition of exam fees as education is compulsory for Junior Certificate students. Whyte called on parents to be vigilant as "there are a whole load of establishments putting on functions this week for Junior Certificate students. In most cases, they are not putting them on for the students to celebrate or to mourn but as a financial venture." Parents should realise that students will get alcohol somewhere whether at a function or through off-licenses, he added. Many students will stay at friends' houses tonight and he suggested parents telephone to ensure they are there and that there is a parent present.
