CATHOLIC bishops have criticised the suggestion by Minister for
Education Ruairí Quinn that 50 per cent of primary schools under their
control could be transferred to other patrons.
Ahead of next
week’s opening of the forum on school patronage, the bishops describe
the Minister’s remarks as “very unhelpful”, as it suggests to those
involved in Catholic schools that “they will be forced into change
against their will. ”
This, they say, will not be the case.
“We
are not involved in social engineering but in the voluntary transfer of
patronage where there is demonstrable demand for such. ”
The comments are made in a formal submission to the three-day forum, which began on Wednesday at the Department of Education.
The
submission is one of four from Catholic education groups. All signal
that Catholic Church representatives will take a tougher line at the
forum than that articulated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin when
he first raised the patronage issue three years ago.
Dr Martin
noted that 90 per cent of all Dublin primary schools were under his
patronage, while the percentage of the population who actively wanted a
Catholic education could be as low as 50 per cent.
In its
submission, the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference
insists that any change in the patronage of a given school must be
negotiated locally.
A decision to change patronage must be a voluntary
operation involving all stakeholders, the council says.
In any
case of a change of patronage of a Catholic school, provision will have
to be made for the rights of Catholic parents and their children, it
insists.
The bishops also play down the notion that they are being
confrontational.
“This forum and process are not a war but a mature
reflection on schooling in our democratic society based on shared
citizenship and a respect for plurality.”
In its submission, the
Catholic Primary Schools Management Association argues it may not even
be necessary to have a transfer of patronage. Consideration could be
given to existing schools granting a licence to other providers to use
part of the school premises. Catholic schools, it says, could assign a
certain number of places pro rata for non-Catholics.
The
Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools warns in its submission that
“rushing headlong into a widespread divesting campaign . . . will be
unlikely to yield a satisfactory outcome.”
All of the main groups
that have made submissions to the forum will be cross-examined by an
advisory panel chaired by Prof John Coolahan. The forum hopes to prepare
a final report for the Minister by the end of the year.
At the
April launch of the forum, Mr Quinn said about 50 per cent of the 3,000
Catholic primary schools in the State would be divested.
Fr Michael Drumm of the Catholic School Partnership has said a transfer figure of 10 per cent was more realistic.
Speaking
at the launch of the forum in April, Mr Quinn said he believed “we
should be ambitious about what we wish to achieve in this area.
“If we aim high, there is a greater chance of success. Am I doctrinaire or rigid about the 50 per cent figure? Absolutely not.”