PUPILS are to be taught religion according to their own faith in State-run primary schools, the Department of Education revealed yesterday.Two pilot community national schools, designed to cater for children from families of all faiths and none, will open in Dublin next September.
The schools in Phibblestown and Phoenix Park will operate under the patronage of Co Dublin Vocational Education Committee in a pilot project for expansion nationally, the first time primary schools will be run by a VEC.
The department has also agreed to transfer the patronage of a school in Diswellstown, opened at short notice by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin last September to meet the shortage of places locally, to the same VEC this autumn.
The school model is being introduced to cater for the diversity of Ireland’s population.
Department of Education director Kevin McCarthy told the Oireachtas Education Committee religious education will form part of the school day.
“The school will welcome and respect all faiths and seek to provide for religious education during the allotted times for the main represented faiths within the school. It will also cater for parents who do not wish their children to receive religious education based on any particular faith. A general ethics-based programme will be provided to children of parents who opt for this during the time allotted for religious education,” Mr McCarthy said.
If teaching in a particular faith cannot be provided for certain children, they will be accommodated in this general ethics programme if their parents approve.
The committee also heard the hope is to attract teaching staff who are committed to providing inclusive, faith-based religious education or to delivering a general ethics-based programme, depending on the local needs.
“The practical issues arising in respect of the teaching of religion, and the lessons that can be drawn for future roll-out of the model, will be carefully monitored during the pilot phase,” said Mr McCarthy.
Scoil Choilm in Diswellstown was originally intended to move to the new model in 2009. But Mr McCarthy told TDs and senators this will happen next September following recent consultations with the school community, the archbishop and Co Dublin VEC.
He said the possible inclusion of further schools in the model from next September is being considered.
Education Minister Mary Hanafin had indicated in recent months that the pilot schools would operate for at least a year before others would be placed under the new model.
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