THE Church should continue to play a prominent role in primary schooling, according to the overwhelming majority of parents of children attending Catholic schools A survey carried out by the Catholic Church found that 95pc of parents who were asked were satisfied or very satisfied with their decision to send their child to a Catholic school while 90pc said the Catholic school was their first choice.
Despite their high satisfaction ratings, about one in three would like to see a more direct role for the State in the provision of primary education, according to the "Factors Determining School Choice" survey, which was carried out by the Council for Research and Development of the Irish Bishops' Conference.
A similar percentage would choose a school under management that provides a "common religious framework" if they had the option. But only one in 10 would willingly choose a primary school not under the management of a religious denomination.
Of the 503 parents -- mainly mothers -- who took part:
- 94pc said that education was a shared responsibility between parents and the school.
- 70pc stated that the religious education provided by the school is important.
- 67.9pc of parents disagreed that the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation were best prepared for outside of the school setting.
- 60.3pc of parents believed that the school's teachers should promote the religious life of the school.
- 57.8pc of parents believed it was important that a school was under the management of the Catholic parish.
Challenges
Launching the report, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Chair of the Bishops' Commission for Education, agreed it presented challenges for the Church.
But he believed that the survey, carried out by Eoin O'Mahony, social researcher with the Council for Research and Development, would assist the Church in planning and future provision in primary education.
The study, carried out on both sides of the Border, ranks the most important and unimportant factors for parents in choosing their children's primary school.
It shows parents are most concerned about education, with an emphasis on the child's needs and progression as well as discipline.
The religious education provided ranked fifth, just ahead of the worship opportunities provided at the school.
Most parents surveyed believed that a plurality of faiths and practices in the classroom enhanced their own child's education and that classroom diversity did not affect their spiritual development.
Parents felt that they themselves were sufficiently involved in the preparation for first Holy Communion of their own child but would like to see more involvement from parents generally.
They also believed that teachers had a role to play in the strengthening of the faith of their child and that the school was still the best place for sacramental preparation, even with increasing classroom and ethnic diversity.
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