Excellent student performance overshadowed by concerns over Senior Cycle Redevelopment
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), published today, finds Ireland’s second-level schools performing exceptionally well, despite being overshadowed by concerns regarding the ‘accelerated’ Senior Cycle redevelopment programme, large class sizes and under-funding.
Second-year students in Ireland rank first in the EU in maths and third in science. The findings in today’s report mirror other studies of student performance worldwide, including the OECD PISA study.
Commenting on the report ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie said:
“The TIMSS findings are testament to the high quality of our education service and the efforts of school communities including teachers, parents and students.
“However, only yesterday, the Minister for Education announced a wholly inadequate allocation of funding to Biology, Physics and Chemistry laboratories for the upcoming redevelopment of these subjects. The grants per school range from only €13,000 per school (for schools up to 300 students) to €22,000 per school (for schools over 900 students), depending on the size of the school. These amounts are spread over three subjects, i.e. an average of only €4,333 - €7,333 per subject in each school. This is completely insufficient to equip a laboratory to allow every student of Leaving Certificate Biology, Chemistry and Physics to carry out their own research investigations.
“To further dilute the funding, the grants are also intended to support the broader science programme which may include, for example, Agricultural Science, Transition Year Science, and Junior Cycle Science.
“Today’s TIMSS report highlights performance gaps between students in different socioeconomic contexts in Ireland. The ASTI is very concerned about this finding and in particular the category of students who have fewer resources outside of school to support their learning, as highlighted in the report. It is essential that all schools are resourced adequately so as to ensure they can mitigate against educational disadvantages faced by young people.
“Last month 30,000 second-level teachers – members of the ASTI and the TUI – staged protests outside their schools in an effort to highlight their concerns to the Minister for Education about the rushed implementation of Senior Cycle redevelopment.
“It is crucial that the Senior Cycle redevelopment process improves inclusivity and fairness for students, and does not exacerbate inequalities or create new ones.”
The 2024 OECD Education at a Glance report (published in September 2024) shows Ireland languishing in last place out of 34 countries when it comes to the proportion of GDP invested in education.
ENDS
Issued by Gemma Tuffy, Communications Official. Tel: 01/6040172; email: [email protected]
