An insider’s guide to education
- Minister for EducationMary Coughlan delivered her best speech since taking office at the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) conference last week. Speaking without notes, the Minister gave the first sign she is prepared to be something more than a cheerleader for Irish education.
Echoing the words of former Intel chief Craig Barrett, she signalled that we should dust off any complacency about Irish education and aspire to be better. She also backed a move away from rote learning in our exams and towards more critical thinking. And she spoke in visionary terms about new methodologies and a streamlined education system delivering more from fewer resources.
What all this will mean for education policy is another question. Plans to reform the Leaving Cert are still on hold – for some bizarre reason Junior Cert reform has been given priority. And any drive for more efficiency would put the Minister on a collision course with the immensely powerful teaching unions.
Coughlan spoke of how Intel used the recession to streamline and re-invigorate. She expressed confidence the public service could be just as flexible and adaptable – but not everyone shares this confidence.
Still, this was a very good speech. Her predecessor in education Batt O’Keeffe was hugely successful in Marlborough Street because he challenged all those cliches about Ireland’s “world class” education system.
Is Coughlan ready to adopt a similar approach?
- UCD's decision toback bonus points for maths was also good news for Coughlan, who has championed the move despite ferocious opposition from a number of academics. Some in NUI Galway and UCC are still hesitant but the UCD move transforms the picture.
It makes it virtually impossible for them to face down the Minister.
- This column hasbeen critical of the low profile adopted by some senior figures in the Department of Education. How good then to see the Department's chief inspector, Harold Hislop, raise awkward questions last week about the €200 million-plus annual investment in disadvantaged primary schools. Hislop acknowledged this huge investment often failed to boost literacy and maths standards.
What a welcome change from the defensive mode often adopted by other key figures in education.
- The decision bythe ASTI to enter talks on the Croke Park deal represents a significant coup for its new general secretary Pat King. ASTI members voted to reject the deal in May but it has been endorsed by the wider public sector unions and, crucially, by the INTO. Now, ASTI has voted to enter "clarification'' talks with the Department, a U-turn by any other name. One wag suggests that if these forthcoming talks were a reality show they would be dubbed "I'm anti-Croke Park – Get me out of here!''
But will the Teachers’ Union of Ireland dig in? A chasm appears to have opened between the leadership and many key branches, including Dublin. This weekend’s special conference on what to do next should be very interesting.
Got any education gossip?
Mail in confidence to teacherspet@irishtimes.com
