How Quinn can make a difference [IrishTimes]
- Published: 15 March 2011
The new Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has the unenviable task of boosting standards in Irish education with virtually no additional investment. Here’s an 11-point action plan to help him turn things around
1 PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND ADMIT THERE ARE DEEP-SEATED PROBLEMS IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM
For decades, successive ministers for education have congratulated teachers on our world class education system – even as some of the same teachers pointed to an alarming decline in standards. Batt O’Keeffe broke the mould in 2009 by raising awkward questions about the quality of Irish graduates – and by refusing to act as a cheerleader for the Irish education system.
Late last year, the latest OECD world rankings confirmed the Irish system was nothing like as good as we thought. Almost a quarter of our 15 year-olds are functionally illiterate. On reading levels, Ireland has slipped from fifth place in 2000 to 17th place, the sharpest decline among the 39 countries surveyed.
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.
The new Minister’s first message should be to acknowledge these deep-seated problems and end the culture of complacency.
The signs are good. On the day after his appointment as Minister for Education and Skills last week, Ruairí Quinn described the OECD rankings as a “wake- up call’’ for the Irish education system .
2 ABOLISH BOTH THE JUNIOR AND LEAVING CERT
Neither exam is fit for purpose. And don’t just take my word for it.
Talk to US multinationals about their difficulty in recruiting top-class graduates in key areas. Or listen to Tom Boland, head of the Higher Education Authority. He says many students weaned on the rote-learning culture of the Leaving struggle to adjust at third level.
The Junior and Leaving Cert exams seem increasingly out of place in an era of smart technology. We want an education system which promotes independent learning and critical thinking and one which encourages students to be multilingual and at the cutting edge of technology. That’s why both exams should be scrapped.
One piece of advice: set a time limit for the review of both exams which has been promised in the Programme for Government. And make sure the review team is full of radical, bold thinkers. The traditional education taskforce – made up of nominees from the teaching unions is exactly what’s not required. Their main agenda is to protect members. You need people who will take a wider view.
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