Teachers' pet Batt delighted to be back in the good books [independent.ie]
- Published: 24 April 2009
Source: independent.ie
By Anita Guidera
Friday April 24 2009
EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe revelled in a less hostile education environment and even the bishop looked more relaxed as he got back to business and opened a new school.
Last week, Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip Boyce sat uncomfortably between the beleaguered minister and an angry general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, John Carr at the union's annual conference in Letterkenny.
Opening a €417,000 extension to St Francis National School in Magherabeg, Co Donegal, yesterday, the minister joked that he had noticed the bishop "not making too many moves" to say hello to him that day.
"The bishop asked, 'What should I do on an occasion like this?" and he was advised by my general secretary: 'Keep your head down,'" he recalled, good humouredly.
But it was all smiles, singing and applause at Magherabeg, where Mr O'Keeffe told teachers: "I may have difficulties over funding but that is not to take from the admiration I have of you."
Later, he visited the nearby Scoil Colmcille in Newtowncunningham, where the board of management had creatively opted to build two permanent classrooms with the €170,000 allocation it had received for a pre-fabricated building.
So far, over 40 schools have taken up that option introduced by the current minister.
"It does not make sense to me to use that money to build a prefab when in many cases a permanent structure can be built," he said.
- Anita Guidera
