The waiting game is now being played by the 1,619 students in Mayo who got their Leaving Cert results on Wednesday, as they wait until Monday morning for the first round offers from the CAO for college places. The gender breakdown of those who sat the Leaving Cert in the county saw 19 more males sitting the exams this year, with 801 females sitting the exams and 818 males. A total of 89 students in Mayo sat the Leaving Cert applied examination this year, where they were graded on their work over two years on a continuous basis. The gender breakdown for that stream in Mayo was 31 females and 58 males taking that education stream. Candidates who wish to view their examination scripts to see how the marking scheme was applied to their work have until next Tuesday, August 20, to get their completed application forms in. The forms are available through each candidate’s school. This is a free service available to all candidates. Candidate who wish to appeal their results have until Wednesday September 4 to do so.
Mayor congratulates students on results
The Mayor of Castlebar, Noreen Heston, said on Wednesday when the results came out: “Anyone who has sat their Leaving Certificate will know that today is a very nerve-wracking day, and most students will have worked very hard over the past couple of years,” The Fine Gael councillor went on to say: “I am particularly pleased to see the significant growth in the number of students taking higher level maths continue this year. There can be no doubt that the 25 additional bonus points available for those who achieve a D3 or higher has had a major impact, but the increase also reflects the introduction of the new Project Maths syllabus.” She said she was also pleased that that the numbers nationally taking higher level Irish had gone up, which she said “reflects the new increase in the proportion of marks for the oral exam – up from 25 per cent to 40 per cent”.
Mayor Heston also said that those who might not get the third level course they hoped for should remember there are many alternatives routes to achieving their goals at third level. “Undoubtedly many students will now anxiously await offers from the CAO, but those who might be disappointed today should be reminded by those around them that there are many alternative routes now available to higher education.”
Money worries for parents
While it has been a nervous time for students coming up to the results it also has been for parents, many will now be looking at ways to foot the bill for their child’s third level education. According to the Irish League of Credit Unions which this week brought out a report, eight in 10 parents support their child with college related costs, contributing €421 per month on average per child. Their survey also found that 42 per cent of parents use their savings to fund these costs, with 25 per cent borrowing from their credit union, and of the parents who use their savings, they have been saving an average of eight years to fund these costs. The survey also found that students are spending on average €516 per month on daily living, excluding rent and bills.
