Rejecting accusations that denominational education contributes to sectarianism or maintains divisions as a, “caricature,” of the Catholic sector, he said he believes that in the decades ahead, the main division in NI education will be between those who are looking for a faith-based education and those who prefer a secular education.
The former teacher and principal admitted that NI is still a, “very divided,” community but underlined that, “one of the key features of a modern, liberal, pluralist society is that difference is seen as enriching rather than merely as a problem.”
Catholic education in NI currently constitutes a substantial minority, amounting to 45 per cent of school provision.
One of the main challenges the sector is currently facing is a drop in enrolments due to demographic changes, particularly at post-primary level. This has increased the pressure on a number of small schools that are increasingly considered unsustainable under new state enrolment policies that require a minimum of 500 students per school.
According to Bishop McKeown, the Catholic sector, which is managed by the NI Commission for Catholic Education representing the trustees of voluntary grammar schools, maintained primary schools and maintained secondary schools, has been working on the rationalisation of provision for five years, “to ensure that we get agreed ways forward rather than leadership just dumping solutions from on high.”
He said he believes that this long process of consultation and negotiation has contributed to finding ways forward for the Catholic sector and to, “broadening the palette of questions that are being asked by secular education.”
All this, he added, may ensure that the emphasis in NI is on, “educating our young people and not just training them for a jobs market.”