Teacher's Pet

An insider's guide to education: Hard to believe it, but we are moving close to the end of the Hanafin era in education. Eight months from now, and perhaps sooner, Mary Hanafin will hold a senior economics ministry in the new Government - or be parked on the opposition benches.

Hanafin is on a roll, admired by the teaching unions, educationalists and the wider public. Her strongest moment came when she spoke with passion about our "cash rich, time poor" modern society. Here was a politician reflecting the real daily concerns of Irish parents and striking a chord. How unusual is that? Since then, she has moved up the pecking order and is now spoken about as a possible contender for the Fianna Fáil leadership.

So, how will Hanafin manage her final months in education? Will she tackle issues like school standards and public accountability? Will she, for example, convene a commission to examine the radical changes in second-level education since the Points Commission reported in 1999? These include the end of the points race for most students, the increasing numbers of non- nationals and the flight from State schools.

Or will she rest on her laurels? Cynics would say that Hanafin has achieved all she set out to do and advise her to take no risks. But the Minister is made of sterner stuff. Isn't she?

One mention of Leaving Cert results obtained by certain schools and we are bombarded by parents and by other schools. So here goes. At St Columba's College in Rathfarnham, 36 per cent of all candidates achieved more than 500 points and 48 per cent secured over 450. The average points score was 440. All of this in a school where 15 per cent of pupils were receiving learning support. Can any school beat these statistics?

Ray Kearns of the Institute of Education says 21 of his Leaving Certs achieved six A1s. So one in seven of those achieving this points haul in the entire country went to the Grinds King of Leeson Street.

The troubles at UCC are back on the agenda after former president Michael Mortell raised the case for an investigation into allegations made by Prof Des Clarke. It's bad news for embattled UCC boss Gerry Wrixon, who plans to vacate his post shortly. The Higher Education Authority is investigating the Clarke dossier, but don't expect any result until Wrixon is gone.

Got any education gossip? E-mail us at teacherspet@irish-times.ie