AFTER centuries of relying on churches to educate the nation's children, Ireland's leaders have this week bent to changing demographics and opened the first multi-faith primary schools.Scoil Ghrainne, in a new suburb called Phibblestown in Dublin's west, is the first state school to be open to any child, regardless of religion. More are on the way.
It's a big step for Ireland, where primary school principals can and do demand a four-year-old's baptismal or christening certificate as proof of religion before accepting them. Some schools even ask for proof of regular church attendance.
But with a shortage of school places and the Catholic Church controlling 3000 of Ireland's 3200 government-funded primary schools, many non-Catholic parents have trouble finding a place for their child. The handful of Anglican schools are just as strict with their enrolment policies.
Until a few years ago, little fuss was made about the religious education system in Ireland, where a steady 95 per cent of the population was Catholic.
The only raised eyebrows came from the handful of parents from other nations who realised they suddenly had to take religion a lot more seriously.
But from 2001, Ireland's non-Catholic population soared in tandem with the economy. The Government reacted slowly.
Independent, non-denominational schools couldn't be built fast enough. In Balbriggan, north Dublin, a lack of places in church-run schools led to the hurried opening of a new independent school with an all-black enrolment, sparking accusations of education apartheid.
The construction of community schools like Scoil Ghrainne is the Government's response. The school is only half-built, but the need for it is so great that the doors opened this week regardless.
While Irish primary schools must set aside 30 minutes each day for religious studies, at Scoil Ghrainne, the time will be used to cover the different faiths of the pupils, as well as "morality-based" education for the non-religious.
"The starting point will be not what separates us, but what brings us together," principal David Campbell told The Weekend Australian.
Faces in the classrooms are diverse: the 65 four- and five-year-olds at Scoil Ghrainne represent 24 nationalities.
"From Kazakhstan to Brazil," said Mr Campbell. The most common nationality is Nigerian.
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(Source: Australian)