Religion 'a waste' of class time [Independent.ie]
- Published: 02 April 2011
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn would prefer schools spent time improving reading and maths skills rather than preparing pupils for sacraments such as First Communion and Confirmation.
The minister said the faith formation carried out during the day took up time that could be used in other ways.
He referred to a severe decline in performance by Irish 15-year-olds in the international OECD/PISA league table on literacy published last year, dropping from 5th to 17th place. Maths also dipped.
Primary pupils spend 30 minutes a day on religion, which in Catholic schools includes preparation for the sacraments.
