School patronage - Surveys are too limited

The Department of Education is set to, thankfully, continue the process of handing over Catholic-run schools to alternative patron bodies after the results of parent surveys were published yesterday.

Though the pilot survey process was not beyond criticism it did show an appetite to change traditional arrangements in how our national schools are managed.

Unfortunately, the surveys on individual schools’ positions were confined to parents of pupils or parents of prospective pupils. This assessment is too narrow. Something as fundamental as school patronage is no more an educational matter than a religious one. It is a social matter and anyone who wishes to have their views considered has a right to be heard.