Robinson’s weak hand on schools policy

THE North’s First Minister Peter Robinson, in opposing the state funding of Catholic education in the North recently, questioned the morality of segregated education there, saying “we cannot hope to move beyond our present community divisions while our young people are educated separately”.

To suggest that those who choose denominational education for their children are not committed to a shared society is a considered insult and is unworthy of the First Minister. No doubt he echoes a sentiment favoured by some.

However, I believe the majority of people support the principle of parental choice and educational pluralism. I am surprised that a unionist politician would launch an attack in such intemperate language as Mr Robinson did on any form of segregation in the North. Successive unionist regimes were responsible for the segregation of communities throughout the North. A recent survey found that in excess of 90% of the population there lives in denominationally segregated areas. The logical extension of Mr Robinson’s own argument about forced integrated education would also require the forced integration of housing.

Does his policy of integrated schooling also apply to Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other ethnic groups? As one who endorses the unfairly maligned state education system – on both sides of the border – I cannot subscribe to the view that the mandatory integration of Catholic schools into the public system would benefit society.

Any and all solutions to schooling, public and private, must be consensus-based, where difference is not just tolerated but respected, where all creeds, colours and systems are celebrated and where the existence of schools with differing ethos is welcomed as genuine cultural pluralism.

Tom Cooper

Delaford Lawn

Knocklyon

Dublin 16