Teacher's Pet

Croke Park deal cuts deep:The full cost of the Croke Park deal is being felt across the education sector.

The pay of young teachers is being cut, small rural schools are threatened with closure and disadvantaged schools are braced for more cuts.

Meanwhile, teachers in Ireland continue to be among the best paid in the world, despite the continued under-funding of the education system here, according to the most recent OECD report. Average earnings for primary teachers are the second highest among 33 OECD countries. Second-level teachers are third or fourth highest among those surveyed.

To be fair, the data was compiled in 2008 before the 14 per cent pay and pensions cut. But even allowing for this, Irish teachers (at least those who are not new entrants) enjoy excellent pay and conditions.

In the Dáil last week, Ruairí Quinn pointed out how “almost 80 per cent of my budget goes on pay and pensions” .

He explained how one-third of all public-sector employees (about 95,000) work in the education sector, “so it is not possible to completely exempt staffing levels in education from the Government’s need to reduce expenditure.”

But can the education sector take more pain? Last week, Clive Byrne of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals said small cuts in teachers’ pay might be a better option than more cuts in teaching posts. He highlighted how vulnerable, disadvantaged students could bear the brunt of the education cutbacks. He wrote: “I’m willing to take one for the team and I believe I’m not alone in my thinking.”

Predictably, his comments drew an angry response from the unions. Quinn, meanwhile, continues to declare his support for Croke Park. But there is the sense that something has to give – and soon.

“Funnily enough, I can’t ever recall being invited to a university cake sale.” – Seán Cottrell of the Irish Primary Principals Network takes a swipe at college heads during the organisation’s recent conference.

600 points?

Not likely

Ryan Tubridy's Late Late Showinterview with the high-flyers who secured 600 points in the Leaving Cert was probably the main talking point in the homes of exam students this week. But it's important to put their success in perspective.

Last year only 0.2 per cent secured 600 points. In all, 31 per cent of students secured over 400 CAO points. Only 8 per cent gained over 500 points. The average score was 305.

The survey says . . .

Some interesting results in Newstalk’s education survey, published last week.

* 70 per cent think the IT sector presents the best opportunities.

* Nearly 80 per cent believe the CAO points system needs reform.

* Only 41 per cent backed more continuous assessment in schools.

* 65 per cent said universities are not adequately training. students for jobs of the future.

* 60 per cent said teachers don’t do sufficient in-service training.

Got any education gossip? Email sflynn@irishtimes.com or teacherspset@irishtimes.com