‘Welcome reforms of an outdated system’

Change needed, says Paul Rowe

THE publication of the final report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism marks an important day in Irish education.

Its conclusions and recommendations, if fully implemented, will see a re-balancing of school patronage levels and the provision of real choice of school type to parents for the first time.

Since the establishment of the State, the primary education sector has effectively been managed by religious bodies. Current school patronage levels reflect that legacy, with 98% of our 3,300 schools operating with a religious ethos, the vast majority of these being Catholic. Now, after years of political indifference to this situation and the effective disenfranchising of thousands of Irish parents who were forced to send their children to a religious school against their conscience, things are going to change.

So what is proposed? The fundamental aim is to give parents choice of school type where there currently isn’t any. The report identified a number of such areas and proposes a number of steps to effect the provision of choice:

* A register for parental school preference will be established;

* 47 towns and urban areas will be evaluated for the potential for school transformations;

* School provision in these areas will be examined on a broad catchment basis with the intention of finding 50 schools that can be divested to new patrons;

* The 18 dioceses covered by the 47 areas will prepare a report for the Department of Education on the transformation potential in their local school network;

* Areas with substantial and long standing demand for alternate school types will be prioritised.

This process is measured, inclusive, and viable. The provision of just 50 schools from the 3,000 under religious patronage will make a big difference in these communities. Should this approach prove successful, further phased processes will be rolled out to other areas.

This isn’t something to be feared or the death knell for Catholic education as some more alarmist commentators would have you believe.

Change in this case is a good thing for everybody in Irish education. Parents who want multi-denominational education should be able to access it. Non-Catholic children who have to go to a Catholic school will no longer need to opt out of aspects of school life their classmates are involved in. Catholic and other religious schools that have had to accommodate children not of their faith will be released from this obligation.

So does this mean that Catholic schools will soon be in the minority? That the Government is forcing religion out of schools? That Masses and school prayers are being cast aside? Of course it doesn’t.

Many Catholic schools already make some sort of allowance for children from different backgrounds.

The forum’s proposals will mean the formalisation of some current ad-hoc arrangements, as well as providing an alternative for parents who don’t want to choose a religious school.

We have had multi-denominational education in Ireland for 34 years. Educate Together schools have supported thousands of children’s ethical and religious development, as well as their sacramental preparation, and have done so in co-operation with local dioceses. If anyone has doubts as to whether this system can work, the experience of parents and children in our schools shows that it can.

It is also important to remember that school choice is not just a question of religious instruction. Many Catholic parents choose Educate Together schools because they like the ethos. These parents still want Catholic faith formation for their children. They are facilitated though after school classes in co-operation with the local parish.

The problem many parents face who want their children to go to an Educate Together school is the huge demand in some areas for the limited places available. In areas like Portobello in south Dublin, more than 300 children are on waiting lists to get into the Educate Together schools with little chance of success. This is in spite of places being available in a number of Catholic schools, some of which have falling enrolments. This situation shouldn’t be happening.

Educate Together welcomes the Report on Patronage and Pluralism as the reforms it proposes are so badly needed. The Ireland of the 21st century is not the same place it was since the foundation of the State. It is not even the same as it was 20 years ago.

Our people, our society, and our world outlook have all changed substantially. Our education system is long overdue catching up and providing families with the education choices they want and need.

The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism proposes a way forward in a measured and balanced way.

All parties to education should respect the enormity of the task that has been undertaken and work together for the smooth roll out of its recommendations. The children of tomorrow will thank us for it.

* Paul Rowe is chief executive of Educate Together