TEACHER'S PET:Remarkably, there was no discussion about a voluntary pay cut when the seven university heads met in Cork last week. At previous meetings, the idea of such a cut has been floated by some college heads. But there seem to be few takers for a pay cut, despite the economic crisis and the daily calls for a new kind of patriotism.

Taking a voluntary pay cut would make good strategic sense for the presidents – and give them little real pain.

The highest earner, Dr Michael Murphy of UCC, receives €273,000 per year, while the other heads receive salaries ranging from €197,000 to €213,000. And three of the seven (TCD, DCU and UCD) enjoy the considerable benefit of an official residence.

Isn’t it time the presidents led the way – before asking staff to take some pain?

When wasthe last time you heard a better speech at an education conference?

That was the question in Killarney last week after a riveting address by Seán Cottrell, director of the Irish Primary Principals Network. His address – outlining a future vision for the primary sector – was constructive, timely and thought provoking.

Other conferences please copy!

The spotlightmay be fixed for now on the universities, but a radical shake-up of the 13 institutes of technology (IoTs) is also looming.

Two issues are concentrating minds. One is those long, long holidays enjoyed by the IoTs. The other, the allegation- and it is only an allegation – that many IoTs are virtually “controlled” by the Teachers Union of Ireland.

On holidays, a senior education figure has been telling colleagues how he rang one institute last July – only to find that the public switchboard was actually closed for weeks!

Others report how some IoT academics sign off for holidays in late May until October.

The formalhanding over of the Charles Haughey papers to DCU this morning represents a considerable coup for the college and its president, Ferdinand von Prondzynski.

The DCU president convinced Haughey to do the good deed while visiting him in Abbeyville shortly before his death. Apparently, Haughey needed little convincing that he should choose a good northside university over his alma mater UCD in Dublin 4.

Close to 300 boxes, including personal letters to foreign heads of state and government will be available to researchers from 2022 – 30 years after CJ left office.

Got a scandal? E-mail teacherspet@irish-times.ie