Doubts over primary schools plans

HUGE question marks still hang over government plans to establish the first primary schools under the patronage of a Vocational Education Committee next year.

In a change to plans announced last February that Co Dublin VEC would operate a primary school at Diswellstown in north Dublin, Education Minister Mary Hanafin said yesterday that it would instead open a school at Phibblestown in Dublin 15 and another in Phoenix Park.

However, no site has yet been acquired for either school and the minister must amend 1930s legislation governing VECs to allow them act as patrons of primary schools. In the meantime, she will have to act as patron to the schools if the legal changes have not been passed by the Oireachtas before next September.

The minister also announced that a primary school opened by the archdiocese of Dublin in Diswellstown last September to cater for unexpected demand, would transfer to the patronage of Co Dublin VEC in two years’ time.

The new schools will form a pilot VEC patronage model for primary schools, but the Department of Education was unable to say yesterday how long it will need to evaluate them before other VECs could operate new schools. It is likely to be September 2010 at the earliest before VECs in other parts of the country will be allowed to do so.

A spokesman for Ms Hanafin said her department is working with Fingal County Council to acquire two identified sites for the new schools.

“Hopefully they will be in permanent accommodation when they open next year, but if not they will be placed in the highest quality temporary accommodation,” said the spokesperson.

The intention is that VECs could open schools to give parents greater choice from the denominational schools which account for more than 95% of the country’s 3,300 primary schools. They will be of particular importance in fast-growing areas with families from a diverse range of faiths.

Ms Hanafin said the schools will be inter-denominational, making them open to children of all religions and none. They will provide for religious education and faith formation during the school day for each of the main faith groups represented.

However, the multi-denominational schools group Educate Together expressed disappointment at what it called a lack of consultation on the change of plans since February. It has already indicated it will be applying to open primary schools in the three locations for which the new VEC schools are now being planned.

Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin and the education commission of the Irish Bishops’ Conference welcomed the move, stressing the importance of choice and diversity in the education system.

The Irish Vocational Education Association, representing city and county VECs, welcomed the minister’s announcement and said it would mark a milestone in primary education.

“VECs have the capacity to meet local needs and the supports they can provide represent a valuable benefit to any primary school,” said IVEA general secretary Michael Moriarty.