Teacher's Pet [IrishTimes]
- Published: 15 February 2011
An insider’s guide to education
As the election campaign enters its final phase, senior education figures are focusing on one question – who will be the next Minister for Education?
Everything depends, of course , on the balance of forces between Fine Gael and Labour after the poll. And there is still the possibility of a minority Fine Gael government supported by Fianna Fáil. Most education insiders believe the next education minister will come from the Labour ranks. Since Fine Gael’s James O’Reilly is set to take the health portfolio, the assumption is that Labour will get the other big spending department – education.
Labour’s very active education spokesman Ruairí Quinn is the name most widely mentioned for the post. But could Labour leader Eamon Gilmore settle in Marlborough Street? That is the informed view of one seasoned observer.
On the Fine Gael side, Richard Bruton continues to be mentioned as a future education minister. Bruton was an outstanding education spokesman. Ten years ago, he produced a report on science education which remains essential reading. He is also very strong on the issue of school accountability.
Brian Hayes, who is back in the Enda Kenny fold, would also be an outstanding education minister.
Despite it key importance, not to mention its €9 billion budget, education is curiously still regarded as a second-tier ministry.
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