Schools have to include religion classes, forum told [IrishTimes]
- Published: 24 June 2011
IT IS not possible under current legislation for a school in the Republic to be religion-free, educationalists were told yesterday.
Speaking at a public hearing before the forum on patronage and pluralism in the primary sector at the Department of Education in Dublin yesterday, Prof John Coolahan said that “it would appear the State is prohibited” from allowing non-religious schools.
Prof Coolahan is chairman of the advisory group which this week has been questioning in open session stakeholders in the primary schools sector on submissions they have made on diversity of patronage.
He made the observation while questioning a delegation from the Irish National Teachers Organisation.
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