The universities have expressed concern about the proposed reform of the system of entry to medical education proposed by the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin.
But a confidential report prepared by college admissions officers signals that the universities may be prepared to tolerate the thrust of the Hanafin plan.
This would see entry to undergraduate courses in medicine determined by both Leaving Cert results and an admission test.
The report was completed by various college admissions officers at the request of the Irish Universities Medical Consortium, the group that represents the various medical schools.
The report says admissions officers have "a number of concerns in terms of equity, access, transparency, evidence base and public confidence which might arise from the introduction of any alternatives to the current use of the Leaving Cert as the sole selection criterion".
While supporting the thrust of the Hanafin plan for the use of an aptitude test, it cautions that any proposals require "the approval of the Universities' Academic Council".
The report also takes issue with the Minister's plan to give no additional credit to students gaining more than 570 CAO points in their Leaving Cert exams.
"Leaving Cert scores above 570 points would be moderated to strike an appropriate balance between the perceived pressure on students to achieve perfect Leaving Cert scores, while at the same time recognising excellence when it has been achieved."
It proposes additional marginal credits for those securing more than 570 points, something opposed by the Minister.
Yesterday, Ms Hanafin said she hoped to have the new system for medical education in place by this time next year. It was important, she said, that those currently in fifth year in secondary school would have good advance notice of any new admission test.
The report from admissions officers says only students scoring above 480 CAO points should be eligible to compete for new undergraduate places; this is about 10 per cent of Leaving Cert students.
In other observations it says:
• The aptitude test should be an internationally recognised and validated exam.
• The aptitude test should not interfere with the Leaving Cert or student preparation for the exam. It is anticipated that students would be able to take the test in a number of test centres, with results available by March of their Leaving Cert year.
• The aptitude test should be designed to complement the Leaving Cert and it is intended that the exam would not have a test curriculum.
• The test would examine mental ability, reasoning, personal skills and professional attributes necessary for a successful career in medicine. As a result, it is hoped there would be no value in revision as preparation for the test.
The report says the alternative selection method could come into effect for the 2009/2010 year.
It backs the Hanafin plan that the Leaving Cert would still account for two-thirds of the overall mark in the new entry scheme.
On RTÉ's Today with Pat Kennyyesterday, the Minister said no student should need the perfect Leaving Cert in order to be allowed compete for a place in medicine. It was heartbreaking, she said, to hear of students with outstanding Leaving Certs being excluded from medicine.
Under the new proposals, students who want to study medicine would have an opportunity to demonstrate they had an aptitude for it.
