Teacher's PET

An insider's guide to education

As you would expect, Danny O'Hare and his task force on science did a good job preparing their report. Some 50 individuals and institutions made submissions to the task- force team, so every possible angle is covered. The case for urgent action is made in the most persuasive way.

So what happens next? Implementation?

Don't hold your breath. First there will be another round of consultation about the report's contents that will go on until next September. And there will also be an implementation group established to make sure this fine report does not gather dust.

TP is a great fan of Danny O'Hare. The education world could do with a few more figures with his dynamism. But if the curricular reform demanded by the report is in place by the end of next year, TP will eat his hat!

That messy row in Dunboyne, Co Meath, is the first real test for new INTO supremo John Carr. The principal in Dunboyne, Tomás Ó Dúalaing, has embraced the pluralist agenda: he wants the rights of non-Catholics to be respected. And what is wrong with that, I hear you ask.

However, he now faces dismissal as some on the school's board of management take action.

Carr is working flat out behind the scenes to save the day for Ó Dúalaing. If he can deliver, he will be off to a flyer, as they say in racing circles.

Well done to Michael Woods for establishing 10 new regional offices that will give the Department of Education some breathing space to develop policy.

But can this be the same administration which dismissed the Rainbow government's plans for 10 regional education boards five years ago? At that time, Fianna Fáil said this would only add additional layers to the bureaucracy. Now, it is planning for its own variation on the same theme. Honestly, sometimes you could not make it up...

Don't expect anything radical or very different in the education policy documents being drawn up by the main parties for the forthcoming general election. There may be a lively debate in Britain, but things are moving at a slower pace here.

No one - but no one - wants to take on the teacher unions. And no one will represent the view of parents.

There will be plenty of guff about our "world-class education system" but nothing to stir the imagination.

That is unless Róisín Shortall and Michael Creed have some real surprises in store....

• Have you got any education gossip? You can e-mail TP in confidence at teacherspet@irish-times.ie