UP until his shocking statement on transfer tests - which set primary heads and parents on a collision course - even Peter Weir's outspoken critics largely gave him the benefit of the doubt.
While unhappy with some decisions, most would agree that overseeing education in a pandemic, which is proving more unpredictable with each day, is no easy task - no matter who is in charge.
What is becoming more and more infuriating for many is that the minister will not do anything that risks derailing one of his pet projects.
GCSEs, AS-levels, A-levels, vocational exams - all cancelled. Papers run by private companies for 10 and 11-year-olds - OK to proceed.
Unions were appalled by the minister's comments on Friday that threatened to drag primary schools into the centre of a fresh row.
Even a group that has been campaigning to allow primary schools to take over the hosting of transfer tests, was alarmed.
Bring it Back to Primary said the workload should not rest at the door of primary schools. The heavy lifting, the group said, should rest on the shoulders of selective grammars and the private test providers.
In all of his public statements on the issue over the last few months, Mr Weir has been trying to be seen to be moving, while moving as little as possible.
There has never been any real danger that the exams would be disrupted.
So far, there have been efforts to make everyone bend over backwards, except the grammar schools insisting on using tests.
However, it appears that the minister's attempt to whip up parental pressure on primary schools hasn't worked.
The AQE test provider quickly pointed out that, as a private company, it had no remit or authority over primary schools.
It said its papers would be held in existing venues, as planned.
It's almost as if people aren't talking to one another.
In the assembly yesterday, Mr Weir's party colleagues tried their best to deflect, such is politics, sounding incredulous at suggestions from MLAs there be less face-to-face learning.
The date on which `blended learning' is due to begin has caused puzzlement - January 25 and not from the first day back after the holidays.
Mr Weir explained that this was to allow teachers time to prepare for the change.
Ultimately it means that children will be working from home as the lockdown ends, and in school when the rest of society is shut down.
