Aptitude tests likely for more top courses - including teaching [Independent.ie]
- Published: 24 August 2009
PRESSURE is mounting to extend controversial aptitude tests used for entry into medicine to other third-level courses. Likely first areas that could be affected include pharmacy, veterinary medicine, law and even teaching.
The Department of Education and Science said the operation of the HPAT aptitude test for medicine this year will be monitored to see if such tests should be extended to other high points courses. The decision to introduce the HPAT test for medicine caused a storm when many high-flying students with maximum points missed out on a place.
A move to extend the tests to other courses has been backed by the head of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the employers' organisation IBEC and the Irish National Teachers Organisation. All three organisations say the Leaving Certificate alone is no longer enough to measure the suitability of students for a range of courses. All three want a public debate on the issues.
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