Custer's last stand at the VEC

TEACHER'S PET:The education sector is awaiting the recommendations of An Bord Snip Nua with some trepidation. The group, headed by UCD economist Colm McCarthy, is thought to be working on a "slash and burn" exercise across the public sector.

It is already clear the 33 Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) face a major rationalisation. Funding for VECs is due to increase to €936 million in 2009.

Significantly, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe told Brian Hayes of Fine Gael in the Dáil recently that this Budget “may yet be subject to some adjustment’’ .

Given the current economic emergency, it scarcely makes sense to preserve the existing structure. Do we really need 33 VECs – each with their own administrative structure and a CEO earning more than €100,000 a year?

There is also the curious anomaly where some counties (including Galway , Limerick and Waterford ) have two VECs while the rest have only one.

The Government will be heartened by the apparent lack of opposition (thus far) to a major shake-up.

Peter Mac Menamin, the powerful general secretary of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, says he has no major problem with changes in the VEC structure – provided the money saved is reassigned to teaching and learning.

The only question now is the final shape of the redesigned VECs.

An Bord Snip is likely to propose that all VEC payroll and pension arrangements should be handled by the Department of Education – a sensible move.

But the Government can expect stiff resistance if it moves to dismantle the county by county VEC structure, replacing it with regional education boards.

The forthcoming battle to preserve the county structure was described as “Custer’s last stand’’ by one trade unionist.

Our prediction? There could be trouble ahead.

The ASTI centenarycelebrations have been low-key so far with little to fire the imagination of members – let alone the wider public.

The good news is that celebrations will move up a notch next month with a gala dinner.

September will see the launch of The History of the ASTI by Dr John Cunningham of the history department at NUI Galway.

It will be fascinating to see how Cunningham handles the internecine warfare which has been a constant in the ASTI for the past decade.

Interestingly, the union is urging all former presidents, executive members and officials to co-operate with Dr Cunningham.