Cutting the number of Leaving Certif subjects will help ‘take pressure off’ students sitting their exams, the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals has argued. 

Currently, students are awarded CAO points in the six subjects they perform best in during their Leaving Cert examinations. English, Maths and Irish are all compulsory. 

However, on Newstalk Breakfast, National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals Director Paul Crone argued it is time for the education system to consider allowing students greater freedom and specialism. 

“We continue with a broad and balanced education up to Leaving Cert, whereas many of our European counterparts would specialise at 15 and either take a vocational route or an academic route,” he said. 

“Where the pressure comes in Ireland is when we reach the end of that broad and balanced education; six subjects are used in a high stakes manner to select students for places in higher education. 

“And that is the overburdening and that is the pressure cooker that students are put into. 

“So, it's not that there are too many subjects, it's there's too many subjects that are high points and high stakes for students.”

Students sitting their Leaving Cert. Picture by: AG News/Alamy Live News. 

Mr Crone continued that any cut in the number of Leaving Cert students would not mean the end of matriculation requirements in certain high demand college courses. 

“I would like our engineers to be good at maths - so, when I drive over the bridge, it's going to remain up,” he said. 

“I would like our doctors to be good at biology and chemistry. 

“As it stands at the moment, if you want to be an engineer, you might be excellent at maths and physics. 

“But in order to get the points for your course, you also have to be excellent in your languages, which may or may not be your particular aptitude.”

A State Examinations Commission sign for the Leaving Cert exams. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

He added that students would benefit from the greater freedom that comes with studying fewer subjects during the Leaving Cert cycle. 

“If there are less subjects that are used in this high stakes way, students automatically will prioritise the ones that they're good at,” he argued. 

“Thereby, it leaves the pressure off on the ones that they are less able at and less interested in, where they have to work really, really hard to try and get that grade.

“So, it's about letting steam off.”

Main image: A Leaving Cert student in Cork. Picture by: AG News/Alamy Live News