An Insider's Guide to Education
He may not be well known to the wider public but Michael McGrath, who has just retired, has been one of the key figures in Irish education for the past decade and more.
McGrath was chief executive of the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the group which represents the seven university presidents, where he played a key behind-the-scenes role in convincing Government that, yes, State investment in the third-level sector actually matters. This has now become a mantra with policymakers, but only four years ago McGrath used all his diplomatic skills to help unblock a Government freeze on research spending.
Not surprisingly, his farewell bash was attended by university presidents and every main policymaker in education. The guest list included luminaries such as Brigid McManus, the secretary general in the Department of Education, John Healy from Chuck Feeney's Atlantic Philanthropies, and Don Thornhill, chairman of the Higher Education Authority.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin was generous in her praise, saying that the strides which have been made at third level might not have been possible without McGrath's expertise at the helm of the IUA.
McGrath, whose real passion is Dublin GAA, was characteristically bashful and unassuming. But he had one perceptive comment on the public service.
Too often , he said, the "accomplished technocrat is celebrated and rewarded and there is less regard for the vocational public servant motivated by and committed to improving a particular service".
• Chief executive Tom Boland is doing a fine job at the helm of the Higher Education Authority.
Now comes news of some interesting appointments to the new HEA board including Chris Horn, co-founder of Iona Technologies.
Astir, the long lost magazine of the ASTI (below), is back - but don't expect a riveting read. Main feature? An article on those evil school tables! Now, where did we put TUI News?
• What has happened to Mary Hanafin's plan to bring the range of student support grants under a single scheme? The plan is for something more accessible, transparent, and user-friendly, which will be administered through the VECs.
Don't hold your breath. Students applying next September will probably still be applying to local authorities as the legislation is awaited. The academic year 2008/9 is now the most likely date for commencement of the new scheme .
• E-mail us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irish-times.ie
