Parents’ views to inform schools’ faiths policy

The views of more than 350 parents are being assessed in the formation of government policy on how Catholic schools should cater for children of other beliefs and traditions.

They were among 437 individuals and groups to respond to last autumn’s call from Education Minister Ruairi Quinn for submissions on making primary schools more inclusive. The emphasis is on 1,700 standalone Catholic schools in areas where families of different faiths or none have no other local school to choose from for their children.

The recommendations of an expert group who oversaw the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector include a need for schools to respect a parent’s right to have their child opt out of religion class, and to make appropriate provision for pupils during religion class. These and other recommendations were set out in an information leaflet circulated through schools last September, with the help of the National Parents’ Council-Primary, and responses were received by the November deadline from: