Minority schools need equal treatment to survive [Independent.ie]
- Published: 06 May 2009
Source: Independent.ie
By Christopher Woods (Principal of Wesley College, Dublin)
Wednesday May 06 2009
Education in Ireland has travelled some distance since the foundation of the State.
In the early years, many pupils did not complete primary education, they studied a restricted range of subjects and technology consisted of a blackboard and a stick of chalk. Today, we expect most of our pupils to go to third level, there is an enormous subject range and we expect schools to be equipped to the highest standards.
In the early years of the State, religious orders provided most of the teachers. Minority Churches ran a small number of schools. These were for the Methodist, Presbyterian, Quaker and Church of Ireland communities.
When, in 1967, free secondary education was announced, the then Education Minister, Donagh O'Malley, was careful to ensure that these minority faith schools were treated equitably.
Catering for a dispersed population, these schools had to provide boarding facilities and, as a result, had to charge fees. O'Malley recognised this and funded all minority faith voluntary schools in the same way as every other school in the free scheme. This agreement has remained in place until now.
Today we have a host of schools under different management structures. In addition to vocational, community and comprehensive schools, Educate Together schools (at primary level) and gaelscoileanna have now been established.
Such diversity must add to the richness of education provided in this country. O'Malley certainly sought to assist minorities in the 1960s, but is this what the current Minister and his officials want? Are minorities entitled to equal treatment today? In a word, it would appear, the answer is no.
When, in the October Budget, teacher provision was cut in all schools, Minister O'Keeffe decided to take even more from minority faith schools than other schools in the free education scheme. The pupil-teacher ratio was raised to 19:1 for the majority of second-level schools, but went to 20:1 for minority faith schools.
These schools now have fewer teachers than any other sector. The Minister then went on to cut all grants paid directly to these schools for such employees as secretaries and caretakers -- even though other schools in the free scheme will retain these.
Yes, minority faith schools charge fees: they have to if they are to continue to provide boarding facilities for dispersed minority communities. Many Protestant parents make enormous sacrifices to send their children to a school of their choice and the State simply does not provide free education for these families in large swathes of the country.
Parents who send their children to a minority faith school simply do not understand why their communities have been singled out for such treatment. Many of their schools closed or merged with others in the 1960s so that some might remain viable and it remains an open question whether the smaller, rural minority faith schools will survive further measures of this sort.
One thing is certain, without equitable treatment minorities of any sort will not thrive in this country. But maybe that is just what Mr O'Keeffe and his officials in the Department want.
- Christopher Woods (Principal of Wesley College, Dublin)
