The Leaving Cert is not meeting the needs of some 40 per cent of Irish teenagers, an advisory group to the Minister for Education has acknowledged.
In a finding which appears to place it in conflict with the Minister, Mary Hanafin, the group has also circulated proposals which envisage a radical new exam from June 2011.
By some estimates, the proposals would cost an additional €100 million to implement.
Ms Hanafin has already signalled her unease about radical reform of the exam. In an Irish Times interview earlier this year she said the Leaving Cert was well regarded, nationally and internationally.
Defending its proposals, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment(NCCA) says they "do not involve change for change's sake."
The report says 20 per cent of students opt out of school after or before the Junior Cert exams. A further 20 per cent perform badly in the exam.
It says the vast majority of the pupils who drop out or secure poor grades are from lower social groups.
In proposing the most radical reform of the Leaving Cert in its history, the NCCA envisages a new, rolling series of exams over a two- or three-year cycle instead of one terminal exam.
It also proposes new transition units in areas such as drama and sport.
The proposals, it says, are aimed "at encouraging more . . . students to stay in school and to ensure a more rewarding experience and improved outcomes for those who do."
The NCCA document, the latest version of which was circulated last week, has been dubbed a "Rolls-Royce" option by Ms Hanafin.
The NCCA, made up of the various education partners, says the current exam places undue pressure on students and puts too much store on rote learning.
Under its proposals students would study traditional core subjects such as Irish, maths and science; short courses in a wide variety of areas such as enterprise education and modern languages; and transition units, a new programme building on transition year.
The NCCA outlines a detailed rolling timetable for implementation. It envisages that the new Certificate of Senior Cycle Education will be available from June 2011.
But the cool response of Ms Hanafin to its proposals makes this unlikely. The Minister is thought to be concerned about the potential cost of the reforms.
On costing, the NCCA admits more teachers will be needed to provide more choice to students. It says this will add between 5 and 7½ per cent to current costs.
