AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO EDUCATION

It may have been a quiet beginning to the education year but the pace is set to quicken later this month when the Government launches the new National Development Plan.

Education looks set to do very well from the plan with more money for investment in schools, particularly at primary level. The new funding will be over and above the €3 billion rolling five-year funding plan for school buildings. Expect more money also for technology in schools with one-in-five school computers obsolete or not in working order, according to the latest research.

But will the plan signal a sea change in key areas like early childhood education? Aside from its social benefit to parents, it would make sound economic sense to build a comprehensive early childhood education system. But, strangely , this issue has still to take off with the policymakers.

On Sunday, RTÉ Radio 1 began broadcasting the four-part series Macbeth in Monaghan aimed specifically at Leaving Certificate students and featuring Alan Stanford. The series follows last year's Lear in Longford which was widely praised by teachers. Just one question - how come RTÉ does not promote these programmes more?

Memo to parents - be wary of any academic who continues to talk up the points race. Here's the truth - the points race is over for all but an elite number of courses such as medicine and dentistry.

So why are the colleges reluctant to admit this? Put simply, they need to keep the hype going to build demand among a diminishing band of students. More importantly, they want to protect their public funding. Relax, your child has never been better placed to get their college place!

The rush for the €200 million in research funding is already creating a great deal of angst across the third-level colleges.

All have been invited to tender before mid-March for the latest round of the grandly titled Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI).

But before any tenders are dispatched to the Higher Education Authority, each college invites tenders from its own faculties and departments on on where the money should go.

Expect a backlash from some academics - especially in UCD and UCC - if their research projects lose out!

Got any education gossip? E-mail us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irish-times.ie