Quinn criticises pace of religious education changes

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will use a speech to primary teachers this morning to criticise the pace at which Catholic leaders are putting forward ideas on how schools can be more inclusive of children of different faiths and of no faith.

While facing a grilling himself at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation annual congress over resources and education cuts, and later at the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland over his junior cycle reform plans, Mr Quinn will air his disappointment that Church leaders have failed to set out good practice for schools to facilitate children whose parents do not wish them to take part in faith formation.

Some ideas as to how this could be done were put forward two years ago by a forum Mr Quinn set up to consider how to counter the limited choice of primary schools in some areas, and how schools in areas where increased choice is not likely might better cater for such pupils.