An insider's view to education

There was afunerial atmosphere in the Department of Education last week when those OECD/PISA results were rolled out.

There was also a sense that they marked the end of a comfortable, complacent era in Irish education.

The results are a wake-up call for the entire sector. Indeed, the response to them will dominate the education agenda for years to come.

The PISA surveyalso raises the most serious questions about the national assessments run by the Department. And they represent another nail in the coffin of the Junior Cert exam.

Remarkably, Junior Cert results showed a constant improvement between 2000 and 2009 – just as the OECD was tracking a major decline in literacy and maths standards.

Memo to anyonewith the slightest interest in Irish education:

The review of the PISA results posted on the website of the Educational Research Centre (ERC), Drumcondra (erc.ie) is required reading.

It is also a reminder of the outstanding work by the ERC and its staff – including Gerry Shiel, Judith Cosgrove, rachel Perkins and Grainne Moran.

The ERC regularly delivers thought-provoking reports on Irish education, which is more than can be said for some better-funded education departments in some universities.

Could the factthat the Department was aware for months of the PISA results explain the sudden flurry of activity to prepare and publish a report on school inspections last month?

Coincidentally, the report highlighted similar failings in maths and literacy. It was also unusually robust and critical in tone. Was this a classic example of the Department getting its retaliation in first? Or just a coincidence

What's the mostpopular Christmas song in secondary schools?

Could it be Fairytale of New York, the Shane McGowan and Kirsty MacColl classic.

One school principal tells us there is hardly a school Christmas concert this year (or even last) which does not feature the song.

Who would have thought it?

A song featuring a drunken man’s reverie in a New York drunk tank is a smash hit in the school halls.

Who says Ireland's young – those weaned on Westlife and the X Factor– have no musical taste?

Who will bethe next Minister for Education?

Last week, we ran through the shortlist for the post, naming Ruairí Quinn, Róisín Shortall and Brian Hayes.

But there was one serious omission.

Several in the education sector would like to see Richard Bruton step up to the post. Bruton was the co-author of a terrific, prescient report on science in schools almost a decade ago.

And he has much to say on the issue of information for parents.

But will Labour insist on the job in the big cabinet carve-up?

This is the last Teachers’ Pet of 2010.

Many thanks to all readers and whistleblowers. This column will return in January. e-mail: teacherspet@irishtimes.com