Teacher's Pet

An insider's guide to education.

• The appointment of Ruairí Quinn and Brian Hayes as education spokesmen for Labour and Fine Gael, respectively, is good news. At long last, there is the possibility that Mary Hanafin might face some formidable opposition.

Sadly, Fine Gael's former spokesperson, Olwyn Enright, failed to make much of an impression.

Labour's Jan O'Sullivan was always very impressive, but the scattergun approach adopted by Labour on education did her few favours. On a daily basis, it seems, the party rolled out press releases in response to every news story on education - but this approach quickly becomes tiresome.

Memo to Messrs Hayes and Quinn: bin this frenetic approach and help fill the policy vacuum in education with well-researched policy documents. And, for goodness sake, stop looking over your shoulders at the teacher unions.

Our advice: reach out and speak to parents on the education issues that really matter to them such as overcrowded classrooms, non-existent pre-school facilities, so-called voluntary contributions, accountability in schools, and those annoying unscheduled days off, which present huge child-minding difficulties.

• We love Mary Hanafin's advice to a recent meeting of a parents' group at Dublin's Blackrock College.

In her attempt to promote the merits of a career in science and technology, the Minister advised parents there was no rule whereby their sons had to study business in UCD, had to marry a Mount Anville girl or had to take a job with one of the big law firms!

• Great excitement over in NUI Galway where clubby president - and former champion 400-metre runner - Iggy O Muircheartaigh is heading towards the final lap.

Iggy steps down next summer, aged 65, and the gun has already been fired in the succession stakes.

Last time round, there was much controversy when college's governing authority rejected the recommendations of the assessment board and opted for Iggy.

This time, Professor Jim Browne - the current registrar and deputy president - is widely tipped.

A wider question is whether aspiring candidates will need the cúlpa focal. Or is this traditional emphasis on Irish language skills contrary to equality legislation?

* E-mail us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irish-times.ie