An insider's guide to education:The marketing drive by third-level college to sign up students before the February 1st CAO deadline is reaching fever pitch. DCU, DIT and Maynooth, among others, are all making a big promotional push. But UCD is again dominating the airwaves with a slick and presumably very expensive campaign. UCD is also taking ads on YouTube , the hugely popular video website.
But where is Trinity amid this blizzard of publicity? Some college academics say Trinners has become much too complacent in its promotional efforts, allowing others - especially UCD - to steal a march. The college certainly seems to have a strangely low profile these days . It is all very curious, especially when one considers that Trinity - like all the other universities - has to fight hard for the best students.
•Microsoft boss, Bill Gates will unveil plans for the next wave of technology in the classroom at the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum in Edinburgh next week. There is talk of a major worldwide initiative. The good news? This will involve one Irish school which has been hand-picked for the project.
•Some welcome news from Trinity: the college will be offering a degree in business and Polish next year.
•One of the most controversial figures in the ASTI, Bernard Lynch, is running for vice-president. Lynch resigned from the union in December 2005 after former president, Bernadine O'Sullivan failed to secure the post of deputy general secretary. In 2001, he took a High Court action challenging his exclusion from ASTI executive meetings for alleged disruptive behaviour. Eventually, the union agreed to pay his legal fees of €76,000.
•Expect school funding to be a very hot topic this year, especially in primary schools. Budget increases in school funding are barely covering increasing gas and electricity prices. New charges for waste and water are hitting schools hard.
One Co Meath primary school is facing a bill of €45,000 for water charges, as water is now metered at commercial rates. Expect INTO boss John Carr to come out fighting on this.
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