'Grade Inflation' Results Due Next Week

Minister for Education and Science Batt O'Keeffe has said the results of a review into Leaving Certificate grades and third level qualifications could be published by the end of the week.

Minister O'Keeffe made the announced the publication date of the so called 'grade inflation' report today after meeting with senior representatives from the multinational sector.

Mr O'Keeffe said there had been a serious increase in grades over the past ten years and there was also a general perception that there was quite a significant increase in the number of first class honours qualifications being awarded by the third level sector.

Fine Gael's Education Spokesman, Brian Hayes TD, said he will be raising the issue in the Dáil and has called on the Minister for Education to publish the preliminary findings into reports that have been commissioned.

Deputy Hayes made his comments after reports that the Minister has launched two investigations into the issue with preliminary results available later in the week.

“The decline in education standards and ’grade inflation’ have the potential to severely impair Ireland’s economic recovery and the ability of our graduates to compete for jobs," he said.

Mr Hayes added: "This is not a new issue but with CEO's internationally and at home raising problems, it is high time that investigations are carried out.

"It is part of a broader problem in Higher Education with the recent introduction of new funding for research, allocated on the basis of competition within the sector placing greater focus on the level of research undertaken and output achieved. It is now incumbent on the Minister to make the findings of these reports available as soon as possible and this Thursday he will have the opportunity in the Dáil to do so."

(DW/BMcC)