College provides intensive maths preparation

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) will once again offer an intensive Enabling Mathematics course later this summer to secondary school students who do not obtain a pass in Leaving Certificate Mathematics.

GMIT delivered the course for the first time last year at its Dublin Road campus, Galway. This year, the Institute will deliver the intensive programme in two campuses, at Castlebar in Co Mayo and Galway's Dublin Road campus.

The three-week programme will commence on Monday 17th August. It comprises a total of 70 teaching hours, 25 in week one and two, and 20 in week three. Examinations will take place on a continuous assessment basis, with a terminal examination in week three.  The overall pass mark is 60%.

Successful participants will be eligible for entry to almost all programmes in the Institute except Engineering, Nursing and Medical Science. The course will also be of significant benefit to mature students entering third level.

Each year a significant number of Leaving Certificate students who obtain good points find that they cannot proceed to higher education because they did not obtain a pass in mathematics.  The Institute is offering them a second chance at gaining entry to most GMIT programmes.

Applicants must have completed the Leaving Certificate programme or Foundation maths programme and have not received a pass grade or qualify as mature students. They must apply to GMIT by Friday 14th August. The course fee is €150.

Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on establishing strong fundamentals. Course syllabus comprises Arithmetic and Calculation, Algebra and various other topics.

GMIT Registrar, Mr Bernard O'Hara, says:  'This Enabling Maths programme proved very popular in August 2008. It provides a wonderful opportunity for Leaving Certificate students who were not successful in mathematics to qualify for admission to programmes in GMIT.'

Students who succeed in passing the course will be deemed to have satisfied the minimum maths standard for entry to all programmes in GMIT except for Engineering programmes (in Galway, Castlebar, Letterfrack), Nursing and Medical Science, and will be ranked on their other Leaving Certificate subjects for entry to programmes in GMIT not filled in
rounds 1 and 2 of the CAO process.

Click here for further information about GMIT and contact details.