THE new school year got off to a controversial start amid concern of racism and religious discrimination in the education system.The Catholic Church defended its position after the spotlight was put on its Catholics-and-siblings-first enrolment policy governing the 93pc of primary schools under its patronage.
In fast-growing communities with a large immigrant presence and strong demand for school places, many newcomer children are turned away from Catholic schools if they cannot show they have been baptised.
Controversy erupted yesterday when it emerged that a new Educate Together primary school in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, to cater for children who have not been accommodated elsewhere has, so far, attracted only black pupils, all of whom are Irish-born.
Education Minister Mary Hanafin said "it might be a colour issue but not necessarily a race issue".
One way to avoid segregation of new communities would be for schools to allow for late applications, said the Minister who also called for greater co-operation between schools "so that we don't end up in ghettoisation".
Ann McDonagh, Director of Education of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin said, where feasible, Catholic schools admitted pupils of other faiths and no faith, but where there was pressure for places the policy was to give priority to Catholics and siblings.
She pointed out that the Education Act 1998 made it a requirement for schools to publish their enrolment policies and if schools did not stick to them, they were open to an appeal from a parent seeking to enrol a child who met the criteria, which had happened.
Tensions
Meanwhile, in the rapidly-developing Dublin 15 area, tensions have also emerged among parents over the classroom mix of native English speakers and pupils for whom English is not their mother tongue.
Parents of native English- speaking pupils complain that their children's educational progress is being hindered by having a high percentage of non-native English speakers in the class.
NPC-P chief executive Aine Lynch said the education system was failing both sets of families and that there was a need for more resources.
"All parents want the best for their children. It shouldn't be competition. This is not just about speaking English, this is about society in general," said Ms Lynch.
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