With Ireland’s OECD ranking in maths and literacy slipping dramatically and our universities falling in global rankings, 2010 was a traumatic year. Here we revisit some of the headline moments from Seán Flynn, Irish Times Education Editor.
1. WE BEGAN TO FEEL LESS CONFIDENT ABOUT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM
The OECD/PISA study published last week was the most significant event of the year. On reading levels, Ireland has slipped from fifth place in 2000 to 17th place – the sharpest decline among 39 countries surveyed. Almost one-quarter of Irish 15-year-olds are below the level of literacy needed to participate effectively in society. In maths, Ireland has fallen from 16th to 26th place, the second steepest decline among participating countries. Ireland is now ranked as below average in maths. In science, we rank 18th – despite all the hype about the knowledge economy. Cumulatively, the results represent a body blow to a system which has long traded on its “world class” reputation.
In response, the INTO – to its great credit – acknowledged the “complacency’’ which had settled on the Irish education system. But the OECD report left no one in any doubt – the Irish education system needs a radical overhaul.
2. AT LAST! THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BEGAN TO ASK SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM
The Department of Education stopped acting as a cheerleader for the education system this year. Secretary general Brigid McManus and chief inspector Harold Hislop put a new focus on quality and accountability. Already, reviews of teacher training, numeracy and literacy have been ordered. There are encouraging signs that the Department’s notorious “light touch regulation’’ of standards in schools may be ending.
Is there anyone across the education system who has any regard for the Leaving and Junior Cert? The complaints are familiar; an old-fashioned emphasis on rote learning and a lack of independent learning. But the education system – and wider society – is also cleaning up the mess it leaves behind. A Higher Education Authority report in October found an average college drop-out rate of 15 per cent. Many of the students concerned had scored very high points in the Leaving Cert exam.
The drop-out rate rose to 25 per cent for institute of technology students on certificate level and ordinary degree courses. Meanwhile, employers expressed concern that many school leavers and graduates were ill-equipped for the workplace.
4. THE POWER OF SOME TEACHER UNIONS WAS MORE APPARENT THAN REAL
It was a challenging year for the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) which was outmanoeuvred by the Department of Education in a row over the Croke Park deal on public service reform. The TUI voted down the deal with all guns blazing and refused to lift its industrial action. But when the Department threatened to sack surplus lecturing staff in the institutes of technology, the union waved the white flag. Members were balloted on the “temporary suspension” of industrial action and the TUI came back to the table.
It was a salutary lesson and it could encourage the Department to get tough with the unions – if and when the Croke Park deal is torn up. Over in Parnell Square, new INTO boss Sheila Nunan could enjoy the theatre provided by the TUI. The INTO backed the Croke Park deal in April. New ASTI boss, Pat King also boxed clever, entering talks on Croke Park despite its rejection by members.
5. THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION CHANGED – AGAIN!
In March, Mary Coughlan was appointed Minister for Education – the third person to hold the office in the past two and a half years. Her predecessor Batt O’Keeffe had impressed during a brief period in Marlborough Street. Critically, he was the first to raise the alarm about falling standards at second and third level, as well as persistent grade inflation over the past two decades.
A report commissioned by O’Keeffe revealed a 100 per cent increase in the number of first-class honours degrees over 20 years. It also showed a 40 per cent increase in the number of Leaving Cert students gaining over 400 CAO points. Given time in the Department, O’Keeffe could have been a truly reforming minister. He certainly had the courage to face down vested interested. But he was promoted to a more “senior ’’ ministry in April . In a sense, the failure of the political system to see education as a senior ministry speaks volumes.
Batt’s successor, Mary Coughlan, was delighted to find refuge in Education after a traumatic period in Enterprise and Employment. She did well to protect (most) education spending in the Budget. But her focus is now fixed on holding her seat in the forthcoming election.
6. FINLAND WAS THE NEW PROMISED LAND
Surprisingly, the article which drew the greatest e-mail response from readers this year was one in April, on Finland’s education system. The Finnish model – where all teachers have a Master’s degree and where schools enjoy autonomy on curriculum and other issues – is now the most celebrated across the education world. It is still working. Last week, Finland was at the top of the OECD rankings with Shanghai in China and Korea.
7. SOME PEOPLE IN EDUCATION ARE STILL IN RECEIPT OF GENEROUS SALARY PACKAGES
Last month, The Irish Times revealed how over 60 staff in the education sector earn more than €150,000 per year. A further 476 staff earn more than €110,000. In all, 497 people are on the professorial salary scale, €113,00-€145,000. The top earner was Prof Des Fitzgerald, vice-president for research at UCD, who earns over €263,000.
8. IRELAND DOES NOT CUT IT WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Another year, another expert report on how Ireland Inc is on the cusp of a boom in international student numbers. Before we know it, tens of thousands of foreign students will be packing into our colleges, generating millions for the economy. Or so the story goes.
Ireland could be a very lucrative centre for international education. But we are still performing dismally, not least because of the plethora of various departments and agencies involved. In 2011, there will be more Government fact-finding missions to India, China and the rest – but don’t expect much progress any time soon.
9. 2010 WAS A MIXED BAG FOR UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS
This year, TCD dropped out of the world’s top 50 universities and UCD slipped from the top 100 in the prestigious QS World University Rankings. The news for some universities was better, with UCC up from 207 to 184 and NUI Galway up from 243 to 232. DCU moves from 279 to 330. UL and NUI Maynooth were again ranked between 400 and 500.
The disappointing results for Trinity and UCD underline the difficulty both universities face at a time when the Irish higher education sector is experiencing cutbacks. Staff numbers have been cut by six per cent since January of last year, despite the record surge in numbers. It was also the year when the Government finally acknowledged the current funding of higher education is unsustainable. A new student fee of €2,000 will be imposed from September, while a student loan scheme is also back on the agenda.
But the university presidents did not help their case with poor public relations. They made no public response when Batt O’Keeffe asked them to take a voluntary pay cut.
10. THE “BONFIRE OF THE EDUCATION QUANGOS” NEVER HAPPENED – BUT THE VECS TOOK A HIT
It was the nightmare that never came true. Staff at the various education quangos (and there is no shortage) expected the axe to fall at any moment in 2010 – but so far they have been spared. The Government did finally proceed with the long-promised streamlining of the vocational education committees (VECs) which were cut from 33 to 16. The new multi-county VECs will break the link between the local authority and the county-based VEC. For the first time in 80 years, some individual counties will no longer have their own VECs.
Is this a sign of things to come elsewhere in education in 2011?
What might happen in 2011 – Some predictions
1. Labour Party ministers will begin to raise questions about the amount of time spent teaching religion in primary schools – it is currently 2.5 hours per week in most schools.
2. An “urgent’’ review of the Leaving Cert and the points system will be signalled.
3. More questions will be raised about the work practices of some lecturers in the institute of technology sector.
4. The multi-denominational group, Educate Together, will be recognised by the Department of Education as a patron for a second level school.
5. New questions will be raised about the millions spent on research funding – especially the alleged “failure’’ to generate jobs.
6. Graduate unemployment will rise to over 110,000.
7. Teacher training will be radically overhauled.
8. The new Government will be less protective of the Irish language. Questions will be raised about the 4.5 hours spent every week teaching the language in primary schools. The possibility of opting out of Irish after the Junior Cert will be floated.
9. The points race will intensify.
10. A university president will threaten to impose a cap on student numbers because of the staff cuts.
An education wish list for 2011
1. A new type of Minister for Education who spends most of the time in the Department - and not in the constituency.
2. A signal from one - any one - of those super-rich academics that they are happy to take a substantial pay cut.
3. An end to those unannounced school closures and half days which create havoc for working parents.
4. A new Leaving Cert business paper, reflecting what's going on in the real world.
5. A dramatic break with the practice of appointing only education insiders to review groups and assessment panels. And an end to the very Irish practice of appointing insiders only to the top education jobs.
6. A new focus on a wider range of languages at second level.
7. A higher profile for TCD.
8. No more walk-outs or childish behaviour at the teacher union conferences.
9. A worthwhile meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Education.
10. More from the Comptroller and Auditor General on education. His report on pianist John O'Conor - the former director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music - remains the talk of the education sector. O'Conor earned €225,000 for his part-time post.
Education quote of the year
What part of no does UCD not understand?
The chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, Tom Boland , at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee in September.
Boland was being pressed on why the authority had not put more pressure on UCD and its president, Dr Hugh Brady to stop the payment of €1.8 million in unauthorised allowances to senior staff
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