Entry to higher education in Ireland in the 21st century

This paper will discuss the selection of school leavers for third level education, and the role of the Leaving Certificate in that process. It will describe the points system and its evolution over the past 35 years and will explore the senior cycle curriculum and its assessment. It will consider the concerns which have been expressed in recent times by academics, employers, the media and the public generally. It will indicate a range of possible alternative systems of selection and will identify the strengths and weaknesses of these alternatives. It will pose some questions for the debate currently underway, and make suggestions as to how concerns might be addressed.