Madam, - Robert Giles's comments on falling standards resulting in part from project work and continuous assessment (October 7th) would appear to be borne out in a report by the education correspondent of The Times of London of the same date.
A survey of parents confirms what many teachers suspected: 85 per cent of those questioned admitted that parents, and siblings routinely polished essays, checked sums and brushed up projects.
Apart from a wrong assessment of ability, such a method would be unfair to pupils who do not have family members who can polish, check and brush up their work.
Surely there is nothing more likely to keep those from disadvantaged backgrounds from third-level education. - Yours, etc.,
ÁILÍN DOYLE, Balkill Road, Howth, Co Dublin.