A report to be published today indicates that 25% of Junior Certificate students surveyed are receiving grinds, mainly in mathematics.
The study of 900 junior cycle students was undertaken by the ESRI on behalf of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
Junior Certificate students find schoolwork hard and are negative about school because of the dominance of the State examinations, according to this study.
Students at 12 schools took part in the research.
The number of students receiving grinds at Leaving Certificate Level increases dramatically and the majority of students tend to be from middle class backgrounds.
Interestingly, the report finds that grinds did not make a significant difference to student performance.
The study also finds that the streaming of students in terms of ability is not necessarily the best route, lower level student do not perform as well and there is no boost for higher-level students.
