The Education Minister has said the number of CAO course places decided by lottery will come down as automatic grade inflation comes to an end.
During the pandemic, post-marking adjustment meant all students had their CAO points increased to compensate for the chaos inflicted on their schooling by COVID-19.
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Last year, students had their CAO points boosted by 7%, while the class of 2025 will have theirs increased by 5.5%.
The result has been a number of high demand course places decided by lottery every year as CAO points surged.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Helen McEntee said the Government was determined to change this “by making sure that we return to pre-pandemic levels”.
“This is why we’re adjusting and returning back,” she explained.
“The reason why you have more of a lottery is because even this year, we have more than double the number of young people getting H1s than we would have had pre-pandemic.”
Leaving Cert students from Trinity Comprehensive in Ballymun celebrate with their results. Picture by: Alamy.com.Minister McEntee added that the Government has also increased the number of places on higher demand courses, such as medicine.
She also noted that there are always “different factors” that will influence whether a student gets a course.
“This year alone, you have more than 4,000 students sitting the Leaving Cert than last year,” she said.
“So, whether we were talking about grade inflation or adjustments in any way, shape or form - that would have an impact on the number of courses, the people applying and the potential CAO points for those courses.
“You also have a change this year in the number of young people sitting higher grades and that, in turn, has an impact on overall results as well.”
A student holding a copy of his Leaving Cert results. Picture by: PA.People who sat their Leaving Certificate last year had their grades boosted by 7% automatically, while the class of 2025 will have their CAO points increased by 5.5%.
However, anyone who sat their exams in 2024 can reapply this year to the CAO with the same number of points they received last year.
It is a situation that Minister McEntee acknowledged has left many people concerned about the fairness and integrity of the CAO system.
“First of all, it’s important to say that nobody has seen their marks reduced - in any shape or form,” she said.
“What you have yes, is a lower increase for some students but we still have grades that are at a much higher rate than they would have been pre-COVID.
“The reason for this reduction - and it’s a very gradual reduction - is taking place is that we have to get back to pre-pandemic levels.
“We’re one of the very few countries that haven’t got to that point and I think, overall, for our education system, our CAO structure as well, it’s actually fairer as well.”
First round CAO results will be published on 27th August.
Main image: Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Picture by: PA Wire/PA Images.
