Can Michael follow in Micheal's footsteps? (Part 1)

This week, as Michael Woods settles in behind his desk in the new surroundings of Marlborough Street, many people in the education sector will still be lamenting the loss of his predecessor.

If Micheal Martin's almost tearful final press conference was anything to go by, his departure is regarded by some people as, at least, a minor tragedy.

However, with the Irish education system in such flux and no shortage of looming controversies, there is little time to mourn the passing of a genuinely innovative Minister.

While Martin's replacement is an older, more technocratic figure with less obvious bounce in his step, those who have observed his career over the years claim in the Ministries he has occupied, he never actually did a bad job.

In fact, some say his low-key reputation has been gained from years of effective and smooth management of government departments.

The theory goes that Woods is sometimes portrayed in the media as a dull and middle-of the-road figure because the departments he heads up glide along smoothly and thus do not hit the headlines. While he could never be accused of being an iconoclast, Woods knows the public service inside out - and this could be the key to negotiating the shark-infested waters of the education world.

His relaxed and self-effacing style during heated controversies could also be an asset, with industrial relations problems brewing at second and third levels.

The new Minister can be expected to follow Martin's policy that, in exchange for salary increases, teachers have to at least look at performance-based systems.

With the publication of a new national deal expected soon, Woods will be the man charged with explaining to the profession what the deal means for them.

If there is any hint that individual assessment of teachers has been hidden within the technical language of the document, teachers are likely to feel betrayed and angry. But even on a simpler level, Woods is already facing threats from the ASTI and the TUI that if the deal contains any form of performance-related pay they will consider balloting their members for industrial action.

Nevertheless, facing angry unions and professional bodies is something Woods is used to. His ability to appear on television and radio and defend the Government against all comers has enhanced his reputation over the years and he may need to call on these firefighting skills more than once this year.

With four degrees under his belt, the education sector is not a foreign land to Woods. However, he may find the biggest obstacle is following in the path of Micheal Martin.

As a former teacher, Martin seemed to have a natural empathy with those in the sector; and because it was his first ministry, he was infused with a first-timer's enthusiasm and energy.

Woods is cut from different cloth, in the sense that he is a career Minister, having held jobs as varied as Social Welfare, Agriculture and Food, and Health.

When Martin came into office, he had already been Fianna Fail spokesman on education, and this gave him carte blanche to ditch many of the ideas tabled by his Labour Party predecessor, Niamh Bhreathnach - the regional education boards, for example.

Woods does have not such a licence. Many of the programmes and initiatives which will dominate his period have already been put in place by Martin and have taken on their own momentum.

Most of these - the Back to Education programme, the national reading campaign (see page 5), the IT2000 plan - are good-news stories opposed by few people.

HOWEVER, the more contentious initiatives from Martin's time are either about to be implemented or are sitting on the Woods desk for decision.

For example whole-school evaluation (WSE), the Department's new inspection system, has been piloted in a small number of schools, but has yet to be mainstreamed and talks between the Department and "interested parties" are continuing.

While WSE is regarded by many as a tame creation, it did raise the temperature at the teachers conferences last year. Woods has to decide when will it be mainstreamed and how exactly.

The weighty report of the Commission on the Points System is also sitting on his desk, crammed full of recommendations waiting to be implemented. Because it only emerged shortly before Christmas, Martin had little chance to advance any of the recommendations. No doubt Woods is grateful it has been handed to him for action.

For example, there is no doubt that some educational toes will be stepped on if the new Minister tries to implement the recommendation that 5 per cent of all third-level places be reserved for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. And then there's the 15 per cent (subsequently 25 per cent) which the report advises should be reserved for mature students.

While most of the main players say they have no problem meeting the 5 per cent target, will the Minister accept that it has to be applied to all courses?

The Points Commission report also disappointed the Irish language lobby by calling for the ending of bonus marks in the Leaving Certificate for students who answer through the medium of Irish. While it may be a marginal issue for the vast body of students who sit the exam, it has deeply angered supporters of the language.

Martin firmly kicked for touch on the issue when he held a press conference before Christmas and said he would consult with various parties before making a decision. Now the man making the call is Woods.

The topic of mature students and lifelong learning is another issue which is likely to exercise Woods during his tenure. With a White Paper due to be published shortly, he will have to ensure - in conjunction with his Minister of State, Willie O'Dea - that it includes sufficient provision for the development of the adult sector. Drafts of the White Paper seen by The Irish Times indicate that companies will continue to pay fees for evening and modular courses undertaken by their employees. While this might be good sense, the Minister will have to find creative ways to assist smaller companies (often start-ups) to send their employees on upskilling courses.

The economic need for upskilling will not go away as an issue, with companies like Dell recently announcing they are planning to recruit workers from outside the State.