An insider's guide to education

Time to lift the veil of secrecy

WHILE PRESS releases from the usual suspects in education get plenty of attention, the really important stuff is often sidelined.

So it was last week when an excellent report from the OECD on the Irish economy included some sharp observations on Irish education. The report is essential reading for anyone interested in transformative change in Irish education. But – with the exception of this fine newspaper – it was largely ignored by the media.

Essentially, the OECD rubbished claims by teacher unions and others that underinvestment in education explains the dramatic fall in Ireland's rankings in literacy and numeracy. The OECD reports how spending actually increasedby 83 per cent between 2000 and 2008. Overall spending on education in Ireland, it says, is now above the OECD average as a percentage of gross domestic product or national output.

The OECD looks elsewhere to explain Ireland’s woes, saying the low level of teacher accountability is a key factor. It is scathing about the lack of a robust inspection programme for teachers especially at second level. It notes: “The Irish school system is characterised by comparatively limited accountability mechanisms.”

The report is also critical of the culture of secrecy in Irish education, where relatively little information on school performance is available to the public. Its message? More transparency can only boost standards. The current Faustian pact between the teacher unions and the Department where routine information is unavailable to the public is damaging.

What will Ruairí Quinn make of all this? Quinn has talked a good game on the need for greater openness and transparency in education.

But, despite the best efforts of some officials, little has changed in the Department. It has been very slow to embrace the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act – and there is still the sense is it working to protect vested interests. The Department appears very reluctant to let the full unvarnished truth emerge about standards in some schools. But, as the OECD concluded, this traditional line is now counterproductive.

It’s time for Ruairí Quinn to address the culture of secrecy!

39:The percentage of teachers working in schools in Ireland where no evaluation from any source had been conducted over the past 5 year – the highest figure in the OECD

Just a great read

This week we have been enjoying Just Joe, the autobiography of Joe Duffy. If you want to know how education can transform and change lives, this is inspiring.

You couldn’t make it up

While virtually all employers, and most schools, now communicate by e-mail, the Department of Education is still sending fortnightly pay slips by post to its huge army of teachers.

The cost of all this in printing post and administration is enormous.

The postage bill was more than €820,000 last year while printing (€76,000) and administration (€90,000) also cost a packet.

Only one question – why?

Speaking of hefty costs

The seven universities paid out huge sums in legal fees last year. UCC topped the chart with more than €1 million. Other big spenders included NUI Galway (€840,000); UCD (€697,000) and Trinity College (€605,000).

The other figures are University of Limerick (€165,000); NUI Maynooth (€147,000) and DCU (€131,000).