Decision to change schools into Catholic institutions was flawed [IrishTimes]
- Published: 23 April 2011
A return to some form of pre-1971 non-religious education may be needed in rural areas, writes GARRET FITZGERALD
THE FIRST meeting between Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn and religious interests about a diversification of an almost totally religious primary education system took place this week.
A good indication of the likely growth of the demand for non-religious education is provided by the rapidly rising proportion of couples who now choose civil as distinct from religious weddings.
Data on this subject is currently in arrears, but figures for 2007 show that in the preceding 11 years the proportion of civil unions rose from 6 per cent to 23 per cent. In our cities between 36 and 40 per cent of marriages in 2007 were civil ceremonies.
Particularly in urban areas, where a number of primary schools exist quite close to each other, a transfer of patronage to neighbouring schools could resolve local problems arising from the absence of primary schools acceptable to parents who do not wish their children to attend a religious school.
However transfers of patronage cannot resolve the problem that exists in many rural areas or small towns where the population is insufficient to support more than one school. This issue is one of those listed to be considered by Quinn’s forum.
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