Sir, – As the Leaving Certificate begins, it is worth asking: what is the purpose of secondary education in Ireland?Is it to prepare young people for life? Is it to develop curiosity, judgment and resilience? Should they have a basic level of literacy and numeracy?A student can fail through much of the system without ever being asked to repeat a year, and get to the point of having to either leave school without a full education or face a Leaving Cert. Evidence exists from various sources of significant levels of adult literacy and numeracy difficulties in Ireland. That should give us pause. If secondary education is meant to form informed citizens, capable workers and thoughtful adults, then we must ask whether we are building that or merely administering a childcare system until someone can leave. – Yours, etc,Darren Scully,Trim, Co Meath.Sir, – As a post-primary teacher, I find that my irritation at the media’s obsessive coverage of the Leaving Certificate has reached new heights this year. Indeed, it has been a challenge over the past number of weeks to avoid well-meaning experts doling out tips and pointers to an already overloaded and advice-laden class of 2026. – Yours, etc, Daniel O’Driscoll,Dublin 7.