Schools run jointly by the Protestant and Catholic churches could help
to build a shared future in Northern Ireland, a senior cleric said.
They
already share classes and other resources but the proposal would see
institutions run with an overarching Christian ethos but separate
teaching for Catholic sacraments and other doctrinal differences, the
Rev Ian Ellis said.
The Church of Ireland minister is secretary of
the Transferor Representatives' Council which helps oversee Protestant
education, and said jointly managing schools was an option.
"It is a thought that has worked elsewhere. It is an idea that is worth considering," he said.
He
added that too many rural schools were being closed and their pupils
bussed to towns when amalgamating Protestant and Catholic centres could
preserve local education.
"Would it be worth thinking of a
creative solution and preserving a school in the local community jointly
managed by the Protestant and Catholic churches? What we were hoping to
see was that we can preserve a Christian faith ethos within a jointly
managed school.
"What we would have to try and establish is a
solidly Christian ethos promoting Christian values but there would be
streams where Catholic children receive preparation for the sacraments
and non-Catholics receive an education in keeping with the core syllabus
they have reached in other policies and we pose the question could it
be a potential solution for the future?"
A study for the
Integrated Education Fund found strong backing for integrated education
in supporting a shared future. Currently Catholic and Protestant schools
collaborate in delivering some classes, like ICT, but the management
structures remain separate.
Last year Democratic Unionist First
Minister Peter Robinson sparked a confrontation with the Catholic Church
when he described the current education system in Northern Ireland as
"a benign form of apartheid". He objected to the state funding church
schools.
The Catholic church has defended religious ethos as
adding value to teaching.
Catholic Cardinal Sean Brady has described the
comments as a stark warning to all those who respect diversity and the
rights of parents.
"It seems strange that people in Northern Ireland are
being told that they should accept a lower standard of rights and
freedoms than they would have if they lived in Britain, Scotland or the
south of Ireland," he said.