Teachers’ pay - Reward the best to raise standards

At this time of the year, the public debate inevitably turns to teachers as they hold their annual conferences. The ensuing debate, both in and outside the conference halls, is guaranteed to generate much heat.

Dr Ed Walsh, the founding president and driving force of the University of Limerick for many years, added his own heat, and many would argue hot air, to the debate this week when he launched a blistering attack on the teaching profession on Newstalk radio.

He described teachers as “a pampered group” who are “behaving like spoiled children”, making “outrageous demands” while ignoring the national crisis.