PARENTS would prefer their children to attend State-run primary schools open to all religions rather than Church-run schools.This startling finding from a new poll is likely to add further fuel to the debate about the future of primary education in Ireland.
It appears to contradict an earlier survey, published by the Catholic Church in April, which indicated substantial public support for Church provision of primary schools.
The latest poll was commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals Network and carried out by RedC. A total of 327 parents of children under 15 were given a series of questions about religion in primary education.
They were asked if they would prefer a school managed by and promoting the faith of a particular religion or a school managed by the state with equal status and opportunity for all religions.
They voted three to one in favour of the State option.
Although the sample was relatively small, both the pollsters and IPPN insist it was representative.
IPPN said it was an endorsement of the Department of Education's decision to open two community national schools which will be run by the Co Dublin Vocational Education Committee.
Discussion
"There has been a lot of discussion about the place of religion in our primary schools. Much of this comes from those with an established ideological position," said Sean Cottrell, national director of IPPN.
"Every day, in schools throughout the country, it is parents and principals who have to work together to plan and resolve the practical issues that arise out of religious difference, such as enrolment, withdrawal from religion classes and preparation for religious events".
The latest poll also shows that parents want less time spent on the teaching of religion in primary schools and more time on other activities such as PE. At present two-and-a-half hours each week is devoted in primary schools to religion.
But the poll finds that only two out of five (43pc) want this retain this amount of time devoted to religion each week.
"However, this means that over half of all adults in Ireland with children under the age of 15 would like to see some of this time re-allocated to other activities" said Mr Cottrell.
In contrast with this apparent move away from religious education in schools, over half of all parents (56pc) believe that religious instruction and the preparation for Sacraments should be taught by the class teacher during school hours.
The survey was conducted between June 9 and June 11.
IPPN president Larry Fleming said: "We believe it is important that IPPN learns independently, what parents actually think and feel about the role of the religious in school management."
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