An insider's guide to education
The work of Science Foundation Ireland in attracting world-class researchers to the Republic is commended by Time magazine this week.
Time's cover story highlights the brain drain of leading researchers from the EU to North America. The Republic, however, emerges as a beacon in the darkness.
Time writes: "The good news is that such gripes (about lack of research funding) are finally getting through in some European capitals. . . The Irish Government has put a new emphasis on science, especially the kind that can benefit the rest of the economy.
"The 2004 Government Budget includes new tax relief for companies that invest in R and D. It also boosts funding for the State-backed Science Foundation Ireland by 62 per cent, in a move meant to speed construction of a solid scientific-knowledge base and make Ireland more attractive to firms in high-value sectors like biotechnology."
The article is another coup for Bill Harris, the much-respected American academic leading up SFI.
Harris has made a huge impression in a relatively short time in Ireland. His "can-do" approach is much admired by the Tánaiste, Mary Harney, and a raft of senior Government figures. Expect his influence on science policy to grow and grow.
There's a surprise. The DCU 2004 calendar arrived on the desk the other day. But there is nothing bland or ordinary about it.
The calendar is illuminated by some stunning photography by DCU boss Ferdinand von Prondzynski. The DCU campus may not be that aesthetically pleasing, but the photos accompanying each month are quite striking.
The question now is what will DCU do for an encore? Did someone mention Calendar Girls?
That row about the school year goes on with teachers still furious at the pre-Christmas swoop on staffrooms.
The rumpus has united the three teaching unions in a manner not seen since ASTI broke ranks with the INTO and the TUI four years ago. It has even helped to rekindle talk of a ASTI/TUI merger.
Despite the criticism, Minister for Education Noel Dempsey is said to be unapologetic about the whole affair. As he sees it, parents and pupils were suffering as schools opened and closed much as they liked.
This argument might be a little clearer to the public if we had a powerful well-funded parents' lobby in this State. But, sadly, this is not the case. As it is, the debate on such issues is dominated by the teacher unions.
Later this week, the Department of Education will know the names of all those schools which closed on December 23rd last, in defiance of the agreement with the teaching unions on the standardised school year. Don't be too surprised if Noel Dempsey decides to name and shame these schools.
Laughter all round out at Froebel teacher training college in Blackrock, Co Dublin, where one student sought to use the excellent library facilities recently.
The student explained that she was taking the on-line course offered by Hibernia. Hibernia doesn't have their own library, so I thought I would pop in here, the student said.
Meanwhile, the chasm between the training colleges and Hibernia course is widening. But having won the PR battle, Hibernia is unfazed. Hundreds more are lined up to complete the €5,500 per year course over the next year.
Got any education gossip? Email us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irish-times.ie
