AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO EDUCATION
The Government did well to bury that U-turn on class size in the middle of the Taoiseach's Ard Fheis speech - but there can be no disguising this major reversal of policy.
For the past year, the Government has sat on its hands in the face of the INTO campaign on class size. The message? We would love to help out but there's nothing in the kitty for more teachers because of unforeseen commitments to special needs and newcomer children.
Two factors changed everything - and delivered the promise of 4,000 more primary teachers. One was the sheer power of the INTO campaign - drawing more than 12,000 people to public meetings in the Irish winter is some achievement. The second was the tide of negative publicity which flowed from the campaign.
Significantly, the INTO took its campaign to every local radio station and this made a huge impact on individual communities. The Government U-turn is a reminder of the huge power of the INTO.
But the ASTI was much less pleased. The Taoiseach delivered a vague commitment on class size at second-level. There was talk of more teachers in key subjects such as maths, but little of substance. The Government clearly regards the ASTI as a soft touch.
You can call it the Roy Keane Factor. For the past four years, the University of Sunderland was conspicuous by its absence from the prestigious Irish Times Higher Options conference on third-level choices. But Sunderland will be back on the stands this year after being deluged with enquiries by Irish students. Despite the €3,000 in fees, they want to savour the highly regarded college, not to mention the atmosphere at the nearby Stadium of Light, where Keane's managerial career has begun so brightly.
The old UCC board was widely criticised for failing to take a lead during the turbulent regime of former president Gerry Wrixon.
But Michael Murphy, the new president, seems intent on recruiting a heavyweight team to help him out. Last week, he appointed the former Attorney General, Dermot Gleeson, as chairman of the governing authority. The team also includes an expert on university governance from The Netherlands.
There must be an election in the offing. Prompted by the Ribena scandal, Labour's Mary Upton pushed out a statement saying all schools must be equipped to test for Vitamin C. That should help extend the lunch hour!
Got any education gossip? E-mail us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irish-times.ie
