An insider's guide to educatoon

Talk about causing a rumpus on campus. Comments by HEA chairman Don Thornhill that some universities should be allowed to go private has drawn hell and damnation on the former secretary general of the Department of Education. Predictably, posters from the Socialist Workers' Party have sprung up in UCD, attacking any move to privatise the State's leading universities.

The Labour Party also savaged the proposals and accused Thornhill of being Noel Dempsey's Trojan horse. Any privatisation plan was really just a cover for re-introducing tuition fees, said spokeswoman Jan O'Sullivan.

All these reactions were predictable, but the more amusing reactions came from some of the leaders of our universities. Mentioned in dispatches as possible contenders for the private route were UCD, TCD and UCC. But what of the rest of them - DCU, NUI Maynooth and UCG?

While many of them have no truck with privatisation, being left off the list was, apparently, a significant disappointment. A senior academic from one of the omitted colleges told TP privately: "We have no time for that idea here, but it is better to be mentioned than not mentioned when it comes to these things".

The end of an era is approaching. The secretary-general of the Department of Education, John Dennehy, is nearing the completion of his 10-year term. Dennehy, who is known for sticking to the Minister of the day like glue, will be missed in some quarters. While he has some time to go yet, speculation is already rife in the Department about his replacement. Topping the list of contenders are mandarins Pat Burke, Martin Hanevy and Paul Kelly.

All three have strengths and one or two weaknesses, according to those who work with them. Kelly is a relatively recent arrival into Marlborough Street and, consequently, he may be the freshest of the candidates, able to bring an outsider's perspective.

Nobody is saying anything yet, but the race has begun. Apparently, some politicians support bringing in an outsider who can develop policy, handle the likes of the ASTI and give the Department a stronger presence at central Government level.

So farewell then Dr Seamus Smyth. The president of NUI Maynooth is departing and his replacement, Prof John Hughes, steps into his shoes in the summer. Maynooth has improved vastly in recent years and applications for its courses have been very strong. It remains a poor relation to the likes of DCU, UCD and TCD, but expect the highly-qualified Hughes to shake things up. Smyth will be a hard act to follow. He was one of the most perceptive and approachable university presidents of recent years.

It is now six months since Department official Jack O'Brien reported on the lamentable state of parents' representation in the Republic. Personality and ideological clashes are all too often the order of the day, he reported. Despite the best efforts of the NPC, the parents' movement still has an amateur look to it. No wonder. The NPC gets a State grant of €165,000 a year. Hardly a massive endowment from Minister Dempsey. But there is talk of more resources going into the parents' movement, so watch this space.

E-mail teacherspet@irish-times.ie