Education reshuffle: The verdict

The experts give their view on the new Minister

Dr John Hegarty
Provost, Trinity College Dublin

What's top of your wish list for the new Minister?

The new Minister has a blueprint available to her in the form of the OECD Report on Higher Education. I would like to see rapid implementation begin and in particular the securing of increased levels of investment in higher education clearly recommended to underpin the Government's objective to develop Ireland as a competitive knowledge- based society.

What do you think will happen?

I am confident that the new Minister will actively implement the OECD report in partnership with universities and institutes of technology.

What were Noel Dempsey's good and bad points?

The commissioning of the OECD report will be a lasting legacy. He was a Minister with commitment and deeply held beliefs. He delivered €42 million for access for disadvantaged students - but, unfortunately, at the expense of overall higher-education funding. We would like to have seen a stronger commitment earlier in his tenure to the development of the sector.

Marks out of 10?

Awarding a mark to Minister Dempsey in respect of higher education would be akin to judging him on the basis of a mid-term exam. While universities did suffer under his watch, the OECD report he commissioned has the potential, if acted upon, to deliver a world class higher-education system in Ireland which would earn Minister Dempsey high marks for vision.

John White
General secretary, Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland

What's top of your wish list for the new Minister?

Ensure that there is sufficient staff in second-level schools so that no practical class has more than 20 pupils and no other class has more than 25 pupils, thus facilitating the individual attention needed so all pupils realise their potential.

What do you think will happen?

I believe that any Minister who has the well-being of the country's future at heart will assert the importance of education and acquire the necessary finances to bring us from the bottom end of the OECD table for funding of second-level education to our rightful place at the top end.

What were Noel Dempsey's good and bad points?

Noel Dempsey expressed a strong commitment to the disadvantaged which he did not have time to implement. Dempsey's biggest mistake was to send inspectors into schools before last Christmas thus seeming to devalue all of the work teachers do over and above the call of duty.

Marks out of 10?

I don't believe you can give a holistic view of a person's contribution in a raw mark. A teacher always distinguishes between effort and achievement. So, "very good" for effort, but we will have to wait and see if this effort will produce results.

Barbara Johnston
of the Catholic Secondary Schools Parents' Association

What's top of your wish list for the new Minister?

I would ask that parents be taken out of the miscellaneous section of the Education Act 1998 and given a section of their own. It seems ludicrous that the primary educators are included in education legislation under miscellaneous. We need more than statutory recognition - we need statutory commitment.

What do you think will happen?

We take baby steps in education, constantly hitting walls of negativity.We have seen the possibility for change but it will probably take in excess of twelve years rather than two-and-a-half.

What were Noel Dempsey's good and bad points?

The standardised school year and the timing of parent-teacher meetings were like Christmas presents you would not have picked for yourself. Both are half-baked and were done without proper parental consultation.

If I had to applaud Minister Dempsey for one achievement it would be the creation of a climate where change is possible.

Marks out of 10?

Three - and that's just because he put change on the agenda

John Carr
General secretary, Irish National Teacher's Organisation

What's top of your wish list for the new Minister?

The primary sector is the bedrock of the education system, but funding is totally inadequate. Because of this our schools are subsidised by raffles and cake sales, our classes are the second largest in Europe and disadvantaged children don't get an even break. Making increased funding a priority would mean progress in all of these and other areas.

What do you think will happen?

I expect that the Minister will implement the Programme for Government and reduce class size for the under nines to less than 20. Such a move would make sure that all children get a good start. This would increase equality in the system.

What were Noel Dempsey's good and bad points?

Good point was declaring that education disadvantage was a priority. Bad point was that he did absolutely nothing about it.

Marks out of ten?

Showed good potential but should have done better.