Monday, April 04, 2011

This is a chance to create a system that suits all Irish citizens (Contribution)

THE newly-announced Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector will change primary education in Ireland. 

But is the minister’s target of 1,500 schools transferring to new patronage achievable? 

If it is, what will all these schools transform into and what will it mean for parents?

At present, primary education in Ireland is mainly delivered through the Catholic Church, which manages about 90% of all primary schools. 

Over the last 20 years, demand for alternatives to faith schools has grown significantly. 

Yet, today, only 2% of primary schools offer multi-denominational education. All stakeholders in education agree this situation is untenable and there is a pressing need to bring balance to available school choice for parents. The issue is now even a human rights question for Ireland at the UN.

However, we cannot afford to meet the demand for multi-denominational education school places by building hundreds of schools. New thinking is needed. Mr Quinn’s initiative has created the forum for change and his October deadline places an urgency on the process rarely seen in Irish education.

What is multi-denominational education and why is it needed?

In the state curriculum 2.5 hours a week are allowed for schools to teach their particular ethos. In a Catholic national school, this time is spent teaching the Catholic faith curriculum, Alive-O. In Educate Together schools, they teach a broad ethical curriculum, Learn Together. As part of this children learn about all religions and belief systems. Preparation for the sacraments, is taught as a voluntary programme outside school hours.

What is Educate Together?

Educate Together is the main provider of multi-denominational education in Ireland. Established in the late 1970s, it opened its first school, the Dalkey School Project in 1978. 

There are four Educate Together schools in Cork. Cork School Project opened in 1987, Gaelscoil An Ghoirt Álainn, in the city, followed in 1993, with Midleton and Carrigaline opening in 2008. Educate Together has 58 schools nationwide with two more opening this September.

The schools were founded on the principles of democracy, equality and human rights. These principles direct how the schools are run and form their fundamental ethos. A core value is the teaching of children to appreciate and understand religious, cultural and social diversity.

Demand for places in Educate Together schools is very high yet there is still only limited availability. 

In south Dublin, the waiting list for just two Educate Together schools is more than 500. Educate Together operates nine schools in the Munster region with places in its Limerick and Cork schools in high demand. Regional development officer for Ireland South, Niall Wall says: "We are receiving enquiries from parents all over the country. 

In Munster alone we would have start-up groups in each county from Kenmare to Tramore and from Nenagh to Clonakilty. As a ground-up organisation this is so encouraging for Educate Together as we actively support parents and communities to open schools."

Educate Together has 70 applications to open schools with the Department of Education. The 19 schools it opened in the last five years are growing rapidly.

What will the forum on patronage deliver?

Though the announcement of the forum on patronage has been generally well received, the proposal for half of all Catholic schools to change patron has surprised many educationalists. The full scale of demand for alternate patronage has yet to be established nationally, though one poll taken in January 2010 put the figure at 60% of parents.

The critical task of the forum is to ensure that the views of parents are respected and incorporated into future policy. 

Transferring some of the oversupply of religious schools to multi-denominational patrons like Educate Together will create a choice that will be to the benefit of all. 

The negotiations between all the stakeholders may well be complex and challenging but we have to use this opportunity to create a primary education system that suits all Irish citizens.

- Paul Rowe is chief executive of Educate Together