MATHEMATICS

OVERVIEW
maintenance, and may result in less time for developing the conceptual ideas underpinning the
practical work (Eivers, Shiel and Cunningham, 2008). Given the increased emphasis on practical
work, the lack of technical assistance is often cited as a concern.
There are four technology subjects offered at Junior Cycle. They are all offered at Higher Level
and Ordinary Level. With the exception of Technical Graphics, the technology subjects are
assessed by a written paper and a project-based component. Technical graphics is assessed by
means of a written examination paper only.
n Materials Technology (Wood): tasks that require the use of practical problem-solving skills
and the application of scientific and technological knowledge.
n Metalwork: (i) techniques and design, which incorporates all of the practical work (ii)
Materials and technology which is the related technical and technological principals and
theory.
n Technical Graphics: spatial problems and the graphical communication of spatial ideas and
solutions.
n Technology: design process to devise solutions to problems in a number of tasks.
Senior Cycle
There are five Leaving Certificate Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics &
Chemistry, and Agricultural Science. Each of these subjects is offered at two levels, Higher and
Ordinary. There is a strong imbalance in the numbers of students studying Leaving Certificate
Biology compared to the other Science subjects as can be seen from Fig. 1 below. For example,
the data for the 2014 Leaving Certificate yields the following percentages:
Subject
Percentage of total
Agricultural Science 14%
Biology 61%
Chemistry 16%
STEM EDUCATION IN THE IRISH SCHOOL SYSTEM
Physics 13%
Physics & Chemistry