The performance of Irish schoolchildren should not be attributed to grade inflation, the president of Dublin City University has said.

Writing in the Irish Times, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski admitted that while Irish kids were not performing as well as those in some other countries, it was unfair to suggest there had been intentional dumbing down of educational standards.

"The issue is not grade inflation, as even with higher grades now our students perform less well than their counterparts in the UK and US," he said.

Professor von Prodzynski wrote that the achievement of top grades was a result of students' own hard work and evolving attitudes within the educational system rather than a deliberate effort to artificially improve results.

It was revealed by the State Examinations Commission last August that the number of pupils earning pass marks at leaving certificate level in 2009 had dropped from 2008's figure. In addition, fewer distinction and merit grades were obtained in 2009.

Written by Donal Walsh

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