Secondary school parents split from national body
The National Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Associations withdrew from the National Parents Council at the weekend after CSPA spokesperson Barbara Johnston said her group’s views were being
diluted with those of other organisations.
The association will now seek government recognition as a separate body.
The NPC is the sole body recognised by the Government for official representation of parents’ views on various committees and boards. It is an umbrella body for four remaining constituent organisations, representing parents of children in vocational schools and community colleges, community and comprehensive schools, Christian Brother schools, and minority religion and Protestant schools.
Last night, the Parents
Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools said it understood the CSPA’s position.
“We’ve expressed the same view for the last number of years but decided to stay within the National Parents Council and use it where we see fit. But we make our own representations on some matters,” PACCS president Gerard Horgan said.
“Our organisation represents parents of around 20% of the country’s second-level students, but the NPC has to express the mixed views of all groups when they address Government bodies,” Mr Horgan said.
NPC president Michael O’Regan said the loss of nearly half its representative members should not be a setback.
“There are always some difficulties representing
everybody’s view but we have always discussed matters and reached consensus,” Mr O’Regan said.
“We will continue to represent parents’ views officially. At least if you’re on the inside you can do something, it’s better than being left outside not able to do anything,” he said.
Ms Johnston said the CSPA would seek public funding as a body separate from the NPC.
