There are many striking features to the points requirements for third-level courses published today. After several years in the doldrums, science, computer and technology courses have staged a strong recovery.
As a result of growing interest among students, points for most major science courses have increased. The high-profile science course at UCD now has a points requirement of 325, a rise of 45 on last year.
While this will disappoint some applicants, it represents good news for the economy and, even perhaps, for students themselves. Many youngsters who entered science courses at relatively low point levels were struggling to get beyond their exams at the end of first year. Employer and professional bodies like IBEC and the Institution of Engineers deserve great credit for helping to reverse a worrying trend by highlighting the opportunities available in the sector. Teachers and guidance counsellors should be praised also for their efforts in this regard.
Business courses are booming too. This reflects an overall confidence in the robust state of the economy. Medical, paramedical and nursing courses remain in very high demand. The minimum points requirement for medicine is now 570 in the College of Surgeons, UCD and NUI Galway. Remarkably, students who have scored spectacularly high CAO point levels will still be disappointed. In its own way, this makes a strong case for the reform in medical education raised by the Minister for Education and Science, Mr Dempsey. A new structure, proposed by the Committee on the Future of Medical Education, where students reaching a minimum requirement of 450 points would sit an aptitude test to determine their suitability to become a doctor, makes good sense.
The profile of the modern nurse is also changing dramatically as the points requirements increase. In virtually all cases, the points needed for nursing are now higher than for arts. This is a reversal of the situation a decade ago.
Today's figures show that demand for arts and social sciences is softening. Points requirements for a variety of arts and communications courses are down between five and 30 points as students apparently opt for courses which they believe offer the best career prospects.
The Government has done a good job spreading the good news on science and technology. But the high failure rates in maths and science at Leaving Cert show there is still much to be done for weaker students in these subjects. Continued close co-operation between Government, industry and teachers can make a real difference.