A bonus for mathematics students

Sir, – I could understand if bonus points in higher maths were being awarded for entry to courses where higher maths was a specific…

Sir, – I could understand if bonus points in higher maths were being awarded for entry to courses where higher maths was a specific requirement, such as engineering, but it is unfair to allow a person with 25 bonus points to gain a place on, say, a language and marketing course, thus denying the place to a person who may be a better linguist.

The perceived discrimination could be overcome by awarding bonus points in different subjects, in line with the study area being applied for. Of course, that would not fit the purpose of this bonus, which is to boost the study of maths; but should we really be boosting one subject over another, when young people have many and varied skills and abilities? – Yours, etc,

GRÁINNE DUGGAN,

Viewmount,

Waterford.