TEACHER'S PET: There is still no sign that the seven university presidents and other academics in the super rich category (those earning €200,000 plus per year) will take a pay cut.
Between them, the Golden Circle of 50 academics share €10 million in salaries and other perks.
A remarkable stand-off has now developed between Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe (right) and these well-heeled academics.
Batt has publicly exhorted university professors in receipt of those huge salaries to take a pay cut. They should, he says, follow the lead of very senior civil servants who have agreed to take some pain.
And still the Golden Circle won’t budge. To make matters worse, some claim the pension levy – designed to protect their own lucrative pensions – is already a bridge too far.
Understandably, O’Keeffe is said to be dismayed by this behaviour; not good news for the college dons in the current climate.
* That RTÉ News at One interview when Seán O’Rourke quizzed Peter McMenamin, general secretary of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland is the talk of the education sector.
McMenamin was defending the current work to rule which has seen teachers withdraw from parent/teacher meetings outside school hours. O’Rourke, widely regarded as RTÉ’s best current affairs interviewer, went for the jugular.
He spoke of the thousands of new unemployed, the relative security and warmth enjoyed by teachers and the salient fact they were given large pay increases – in return for co-operation with parent/teacher meetings outside school hours.
Eventually, O’Rourke asked McMenamin directly: “What planet are you living on?’’
It was a classic radio moment. In fairness, McMenamin handled the question well, managing to keep his cool under pressure.
But the interview should be required listening for all teacher union delegates before next week’s Easter conferences.
* Is there some unease among members of the new national strategy on higher education about their precise role?
The body, chaired by economist, Colin Hunt, is due to report by the end of the year. One senior academic says the new group is a “task force in search of an agenda.’’
Surely not?
