Madam, – I refer to Jim O’Hara’s article on the need to overhaul our education system, primarily our secondary school system (Opinion, July 8th). However, his article ignores the fact that science is not a core subject in Irish primary schools. If we are serious in our intent to develop a knowledge-based economy, then the profile of science needs to be raised in primary schools by making it a core subject, alongside English, Irish and mathematics. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – After reading the comment on the Irish Education system by Intel general manager, Jim O’Hara (Opinion, July 8th), I wonder when we as a society will stop trying to apply business models to public services? Square pegs and round holes spring to mind. The rules of the market should never be applied to schools.
Although I welcome much of what Mr O’Hara proposes, I baulk at his suggestion that teachers’ pay should be performance-linked,
“Meritocracy makes great sense in business and there is no reason why it should not work in education,” Mr O’Hara states. But how does he propose we assess which teachers are worthy under such a “meritocracy” – Leaving Cert results? I feel a teacher in a well- funded private school with no special needs students or foreign nationals will certainly appear on paper to be of more “merit” than a teacher working with large classes in a disadvantaged area.
However, the truth is, education cannot be quantified or categorised as if teachers were line workers at an Intel plant. – Yours, etc,