An insider's guide to education

We all know how the political agenda is being shaped by the 2007 election. So, what shapes the political agenda? Would you believe the forthcoming teacher conferences?

Here's a prediction. Any material that shows the Minister in a good light will be released in the next month in the run-up to the Easter conference season. So, expect that report of the Task Force on Student Discipline shortly.

Similarly, any potentially dangerous stuff - such as the publication of school inspection reports - will be held back until the conferences are over and the teachers are back in the staffrooms. The department says the inspection reports won't now be available until May. There's a surprise.

*Some interesting exchanges during the recent Seanad debate on education as Senator Shane Ross let rip on everyone's favourite teaching union.

Here's an excerpt: "The days when the ASTI was striking did much damage to the cause, profile and reputation of teachers . . . In those days, they regarded their own selfish interests as far more important than those of their pupils. Indeed, they struck in circumstances which were deplorable in the light of the interests of pupils and the examinations taking place at the time.

"The softer and more caring approach of the INTO will pay off not only for the pupils but for the teachers because public opinion has moved again to acknowledge the great work teachers do which tended to be forgotten at the time the strikes were taking place when public opinion reacted against teachers."

*Later in the exchanges Senator John Minihan of the PDs highlighted the increase in special-needs provision to Senator (and ex INTO boss) Joe O'Toole.

Minihan commented acidly: "Perhaps the INTO was better off getting rid of Senator O'Toole; it has done so well since he left." Ouch!

*Enda Kenny is not a man to cut up rough, but even his endless pool of patience has been tested by the clashes with Mary Hanafin over the Irish language.

The Minister has regularly accused Kenny of working to kill off the language, a criticism that is known to infuriate the Fine Gael leader. Kenny believes he is entitled to point out the decline of the language in schools without being criticised in this way. But you can expect more of the same as the political temperature rises.

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