Nearly 117,000 candidates have been entered for Leaving Cert and Junior Cert exams in secondary schools in Ireland this year and a record number are preparing to sit higher level maths.

The figures will be a big boost to both the government and employers who have been calling for job candidates to be equipped with the necessary skills to build Ireland's economic recovery.

Also, the record level of higher maths entrants show that school leavers are taking on board career advice with a view to potential job vacancies in the future.

Indeed the increase in higher level maths students follows the introduction of 25 bonus points for those who achieve at least a Grade D in the higher level paper in the Leaving Cert.

The number of students entered for Leaving Cert remains relatively stable at 56,602 - down negligibly from 57,090 last year.

However, the amount of Junior Cert entries has topped 60,000 for the first time in over ten years, due primarily to the baby boom in the mid 90s.

Written by Donal Walsh

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