Is Ruairi Quinn in Education for the long haul?
The working assumption across the sector – and among his senior officials – has been that Ruairí Quinn would leave Marlborough Street in the summer of 2013.
There has even been some speculation that Quinn is en route to Brussels as Ireland’s EU commissioner. Labour has never held this post and Quinn – a former president of the ECOFIN council of EU finance ministers – has all the right credentials.
But the Minister has appeared to contradict this scenario. On two recent occasions he signalled how he could be staying for a full five-year term in Education – which would bring us to 2016. Our view? There is a good case for a five-year fixed term for a Minister for Education – especially at a time when the system requires major reform. Quinn is the fifth person to hold the portfolio since Michael Woods vacated it a decade ago.
Education needs a minister who takes the long view – is Ruairí Quinn about to oblige?
Kenny’s warm welcome at NUIG
Taoiseach Enda Kenny gave a stirring address at NUI Galway’s annual gala ball on Saturday night. Kenny – a former NUIG student – was warmly received. Unusually these days there was a positive upbeat atmosphere at the event ; it came only days after the university gained a a five-star rating from the latest QS Stars rating system. Galway received maximum ratings in several key areas, including research, teaching, internationalisation, facilities, engagement and innovation.
The first international assessment of its kind, QS Stars has been devised by the research team behind the annual QS World University Rankings. The opt-in scheme assesses an unlimited number of universities in a greater range of areas than any existing international ranking. UCC also achieved the five star rating.
YouTube sensation
The rowdy antics of a small minority of students from NUI Galway and GMIT during the recent unofficial rag week has become something of a sensation on YouTube.
There have been over 200,000 views of various scenes in which an army of students chant at a young female Garda. Another scene in which a large crowd of drunken students set a flare alight outside Supermacs has also gone viral.
One YouTube user commented: “Wow, young Irish students are doing this while young Syrians, Libyans, Yemenis, Iranians, etc. protest injustice and are being killed. How many of these will protest budget cuts on the streets of Irish cities and towns?”
Good news for small schools?
The forthcoming referendum on what has been called the “Austerity Treaty” could be good news for small schools and others worried about education cuts. Any final decision on the future of these schools is likely to be delayed until after the summer referendum.
And that’s the only factor working to delay decision-making in education.
Minister Ruairí Quinn would like to publish Prof John Coolahan’s report on the forum on school patronage – but the Government is reluctant to pick another fight with the Catholic church after that row about the Vatican embassy.
Quinn is also due to publish new rules on school admissions. Will this also be delayed for fear of antagonising people in the run-up to the referendum?
New obstacles for DEIS schools?
There is growing unease among Labour backbenchers about the plan which would force all trainee primary teachers to have higher level maths – as well as higher level Irish – in their Leaving Cert results.
There are some grumbles that these tough entry requirements will make it even more difficult for kids from disadvantaged schools to enter teaching. Our view? The whole issue needs revisiting. Insisting on higher-level maths and indeed Irish for those teaching young children makes for good PR – but it makes no practical sense. It’s unfair on pupils – who for all sorts of reasons – may not be up to honours Irish . And it’s unfair on pupils in many schools where higher-level maths is not always available.
And speaking of Irish
With oral Irish now accounting for 40 per cent of Leaving Cert marks, Raidió na Gaeltachta is rolling out a timely new series. Síle Ní Scanláin will present A Rá and the show will include a new radio soap-opera, An Baile Beag, based on teenage life and featuring young Connemara actors.
It is hoped that this will be a fun and creative way to help students with building vocabulary, correct use of tenses and grammar, without feeling like a lesson. Broadcast on Mondays at 10.15am, and rebroadcast on Saturdays at 11.30am. It’s also available on the RTÉ Radio Player.
