CAO System Reform Of 'Critical Importance' - FF

The CAO system must be reformed and entry levels into third level education broadened, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education and Skills, Thomas Byrne, has said.

Deputy Byrne said it was of "critical importance" to implement more meaningful and ambitions reforms to the CAO and Leaving Cert system.

"There has been a huge increase in the number of courses being offered at 3rd level under the CAO system in recent years. This has resulted in the CAO system becoming staggeringly complex, which is heaping further pressure on Leaving Certificate students who are already facing the stress of having to sit the state exams," Deputy Byrne said.

"The universities have admitted that such specialised courses were introduced with the intention of inflating entry points under the CAO system, with the aim of enhancing the perception that their institutions offered prestigious 'high points' courses.

"This has perpetuated the fallacy that high points courses are automatically more prestigious. Minister Bruton and the Higher Education Authority need to take a tougher line with 3rd level institutions that have shown themselves unwilling to broaden their entry routes.

Deputy Byrne added that with specialist guidance, young people find it difficult to cope with the huge range of options that are open to them.

"This is a further reason why Fianna Fáil considered it essential to secure a restoration of guidance counselling to schools in return for supporting the government on a Confidence and Supply basis. We expect to see significant restoration of guidance services in Budget 2017," Deputy Byrne concluded.

(MH/CD)