WHO’S WHO introduces people who are making an important contribution to education in Ireland today.

NAME:   Humphrey O’Riordan
POSITION: President, National Parents’ Council Post Primary
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Where are you from?
I am from Rathcoole, which is outside the town of Millstreet, in Co. Cork.

What is your earliest childhood memory?
It dates back to when I was in first class in primary school and was locked into an old shed at the back of the school by the school bully. Bullying has always taken place in schools.

How many siblings have you?
I have one brother and one sister.

Are you a close family?
We are always there for each other when we are needed.

Where did you go to school/college?
I attended a small country primary school in Ballydaly, also near Millstreet. I completed my post primary education in Millstreet Community School.

Was there a teacher who had a particular influence on you?
I will never forget one of my primary school teachers but for all the wrong reasons.

Describe the path that has led you to your position as president of NPCpp 
In 1997, when my eldest child went into first year in Millstreet Community School, I joined the Parent Association. I found this involvement kept me informed on all the happenings within the school. We would meet every month and at every meeting you’d learn something new.

At some of the meetings, parents would talk about PACCS and regional meetings but at that stage I didn’t know what they were talking about. As time went on everything was explained and I began to understand how PACCS - the national body of the Parents Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools - worked.

I agreed to attend a regional meeting which brought me to a different level. We were no longer discussing local issues which affected just Millstreet C.S., but issues that had a wider significance. I was totally hooked at this stage and after about two years I was elected as chairperson of the Cork region. The Cork region changed its name shortly afterwards to the southern region as Kerry was now included.

In 2002, I was nominated to represent the region on the National Executive of PACCS, which I accepted. Again this was a big change because now we were dealing with national issues and were involved in policy making.

I was elected as Vice President of PACCS in 2003, and in 2004 I became President of PACCS and director of the National Parent Council post primary (NPCpp), the umbrella body for the five constituent bodies of the parents’ association.

In June 2007 I took on the role of acting President until the AGM in September. I was then elected President of NPCpp in September 2007 and I am enjoying the challenge.

What are the main challenges of your current position?
Our main challenges at the moment are to properly represent parents’ views with a poorly funded voluntary body.

There have been reports of considerable internal wrangling within NPCpp over the years. Has this dissension weakened the organisation?
In the last few years there have been big changes in NPCpp. All five bodies are working well together and the future looks bright.

What plans have you for the future of NPCpp?
In the near future we hope to launch a new website which we are working on at present. We are also drafting an up-to-date policy document.

Last November, we launched the Post Primary Education Forum which is a coming together of teachers’ unions, management bodies and parents to help achieve common goals. We need to work together in true partnership.

Hopefully by the end of my term as President, NPCpp will be more of a professional body and less dependent on volunteers. The voluntary side is very important but to truly represent parents we need more full-time staff.

What are the most common problems presented by parents?
One of the greatest fears parents have is that their child will be bullied in school and that they may not be able to achieve their true potential.

What do you enjoy most about your work for NPCpp?
There is a great sense of satisfaction when you get a group of people working together and enjoying what they do by helping others.

What aspect of the work do you like least?
It takes so long to make changes in education that sometimes you just feel like giving up.

What is the best thing that has happened to you in the past year?
Being elected President of a national organisation is a reasonably large achievement and doesn’t happen too often.

Are you a workaholic?
Not really, but I hate wasting time.

What do you do to chill out?
I enjoy traditional Irish music, good food and horse racing.

Are you married?
Yes, I am married to Eileen since 1980 and we have two children, John Joe and Annmarie.

Do you like living in Cork?
Anyone would be proud to live in the People’s Republic of Cork!

Have you a pet hate?
Cats!!

Have you a role model?
My father was my role model.

What in the world would you most like to change?
I would love to be able to reduce the weight of school bags; completely get rid of bullying in our schools; make exams less stressful on students and parents; and hundreds of other necessities.

Have you a message for parents?
Always remember parents are the main educators of their children and have the right to be involved in their child’s academic education.

Have you a message for teachers?
Teaching is a vocation not just a job.

Have you a message for policy makers?
Remember to treat all partners in education with the same respect.