ASTI - Ireland's main second level teachers union

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ASTI President Brendan Broderick has sent a message of congratulations to more than 57,000 Leaving Certificate students who will be collecting their results today.

The ASTI leader also stated that the 2011 Leaving Certificate statistics indicate that some second-level schools have dropped strategically critical subjects, including physics and modern languages, following the worsening of the pupil-teacher ratio in 2009.

Brendan Broderick said: “The ASTI always maintained that worsening the pupil-teacher ratio would force schools to drop subjects and classes. What is now emerging is that strategically important subjects have been dropped by some schools.”

The Leaving Certificate statistics for 2011 show a 3.4% drop in the number of students taking physics and a 4.8% drop in the number taking German. This strongly indicates that some second-level schools have dropped these subjects from their timetable. ASTI surveys carried out in 2009 and 2010 found that the change in the pupil-teacher ratio resulted in schools dropping minority subjects from the curriculum.

Mr Broderick added that the ASTI is alarmed by recent media reports suggesting that a further increase in the pupil-teacher ratio may be considered. “It is clear that if the pupil-teacher ratio is targeted again, more schools will be forced to drop subjects that are vital to economic recovery.”

Leaving Cert results

Commenting on the Leaving Certificate results, Mr Broderick said today’s results are the culmination of five to six years of learning and effort. “Often there is much focus on the top performers – the small minority who obtain the maximum points. Teachers and parents know that for some students obtaining passes is as much an achievement as other students obtaining honours. Every student is a unique person with their own set of interests, abilities, talents and experiences. Irish classrooms are filled with students who come from all kinds of backgrounds and circumstances. We wish them all well in their future endeavours.”