Group calls for parental choice over school patrons [IrishTimes]
- Published: 02 May 2011
THE DEPARTMENT of Education should take all reasonable measures to ensure parents have a choice of school patron, according to a new report by an expert group.
The report on the procedures for establishing new primary schools says it is no longer practical for “every student to be provided with access to a place in a school operated by a patron of their choice”.
It says patrons must in future be able to show clear public demand for their proposed schools, possibly involving a parental survey.
Gaelscoileanna have raised concerns about this recommendation. In an appendix to the report, they say if schools are to be established on the basis of parental demand, it will be difficult to establish an all-Irish school, as only a minority of people will seek all-Irish education in preference to education through English.
The report of the Commission on School Accommodation comes as the Catholic Church, which controls 90 per cent of primary schools, prepares to hand over some schools to other patrons. Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has expressed the hope that 50 per cent of Catholic schools can be divested as part of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism.
In their submission to the department’s review, Catholic Church groups say the criteria for recognising new schools “must respect the continuing demand for denominational education”.
The report says proposed new primary schools must signal readiness to be part of a development with other schools in order to gain recognition by the department.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
