Teacher's PET

An insider's guide to education

That ASTI climbdown on the Junior Cert science course was widely predicted, not least in these columns a fortnight ago.

In fairness, the ASTI executive members who supported the ban had very real concerns about health and safety in labs across the country.

But when it became a choice retaining the ban and losing the near-10 per cent increase from the national pay deal, there was always going to be only one option. The bottom line was this; the concerns of some about one subject could not be allowed to jeopardise all 17,000 members getting the money.

ASTI is very rarely criticised by opposition spokesmen but the PD education spokesmen. Senator John Minihan was not holding back last week.

In a statement on the controversy he said bluntly: " The ASTI signed up to the partnership deal, they are happy to take the associated pay rises, and yet refuse to make compromises". Ouch!

After years of punching below its weight in media terms , the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) is set to up its profile. The union has just appointed ex USI press officer, Conor Griffin, as its new media man.

Griffin was largely responsible for the highly professional campaign run by USI against the proposed re-introduction of college fees. He is expected to work closely with wily general secretary, Jim Dorney and the hugely regarded former president president, John McGabhainn .

That conference organised by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) in Galway was a stunning affair. The glitzy hotel (the Radisson) and the smooth organisation conveyed the clear message that this is an organisation on the up. Entertainment was provided by Macnas and delegates also hugely appreciated an after dinner-speech by Michael D. Higgins on the evils of the new materialism.

The guest-list included a host of Department officials, such as Eamonn Stack, the new head of the special education council, Pat Curtin, the head of the equality agency, Niall Crowley and the head of the State exams commission, Pádraig McNamara.

Credit where credit is due... After years when Dáil questions to the education minister were dominated by parish pump stuff, matters have improved radically.

The recent Dáil questions were notable for a series of good and probing questions from the opposition spokespersons

and from people like Eamon Gilmore, Liam Naughten, Dinny McGinley, Brendan Howlin and Ruairí Quinn

Congratulations to Griffith College, the State's largest private college, which is investing some €40 million over the next 15 months in lecture theatres, student facilities and student accommodation.

While we might like to congratulate ourselves on the strong showing of our 15 year-olds in the OECD survey, a good proportion of the adult population still endures literacy problems. The Read Write Now series on RTÉ is pulling in an average audience of over 135,000 and has received almost 4,000 callers to its helpline.

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