Changes will pose no threat to rights, forum told [IrishTimes]
- Published: 23 June 2011
THE LAST things Irish society needs are social division and conflict associated with problems affecting local school provision, the chairman of the forum said.
In his opening address, Prof John Coolahan said the process of adjusting school patronage could involve the unlocking of allegiances, long-held loyalties, aspects of identity and personal engagement. People could have an emotional attachment to their local schools, which must be understood, he said.
He expressed confidence that social conflict could be avoided, but he exhorted those participating in the forum to consider not just a sectoral interest, but to reach out and seek accommodation with other legitimate interests.
It was crucial that unnecessary fears and apprehensions about the future of religion in schools were not fomented by any agency, including the media, he said.
He said the attempt to make greater provision for the rights of some citizens “does not mean that we trespass on the rights of others. There are likely to be adjustments and inconveniences for some citizens with the restructuring of school patronage, but their rights will not be threatened or abolished.”
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Patronage forum attempts to establish ‘transparent’ process [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 23 June 2011
THE decision on whether or which schools should be divested to new patrons should not be decided by a simple local vote, parents and Catholic bishops appeared to agree yesterday.
The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector is trying to establish the most transparent ways to decide what areas such transfers might take place in. But deciding how the schools are picked will also be a vital part of its recommendations to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.
The forum advisory group chairman Professor John Coolahan suggested to representatives of the Catholic bishops, patrons to almost 90% of the country’s’ 3,300 primary schools, that they could take greater leadership.
But Fr Michael Drumm who is head of the Catholic Schools Partnership, a joint initiative of the bishops and religious orders, said discussions had previously taken place about particular schools being divested to pilot a new system.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Church under fire on school plans [Independent.ie]
- Published: 23 June 2011
CATHOLIC bishops came under pressure yesterday on the strength of their commitment to hand over some of the 90pc of primary schools they control to other patrons.
The head of the body advising on the provision of greater school choice pressed church representatives for assurances that they would be "active agents" in change.
Professor John Coolahan is chair of the Forum on Pluralism and Patronage, which yesterday began three days of public hearings with education organisations on issues around the divestment process.
In its written submission to the forum, the Council for the Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference said any process of change of patronage must be driven by parents from the ground up, and could not be led by patrons or trustees of existing schools
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Sinead Ryan: Hard-pressed mums being held to ransom by 'updated' school texts [herald.ie]
- Published: 23 June 2011
The children haven't even broken up for the summer holidays yet and already parents are tearing their hair out in frustration at the costs already piling up for the next school year.
All those books they carefully kept covered and clean, ready for the next child down the line will be redundant. Instead, they'll be expected to fork out hundreds for a brand new set -- not because the curriculum's changed, but because a picture on page 23 has been updated.
It's ridiculous, and it makes parents' mouths foam with outrage. In fairness, it drives teachers mad too. The only people who benefit from the regurgitation of perfectly good books into new, updated models, are publishers and printers. These days, with everyone trying to keep costs to a minimum and the planet greener, it seems the re-printing of new editions of school books are costing us a fortune on both counts.
Full Story: www.herald.ie
School patronage - Children are the central concern [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 23 June 2011
Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn yesterday opened the three-day Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. It has been set up to decide what role the Church will play in the area of school patronage into the future.
The forum has been set up against the backdrop of significant changes in society over recent years. These changes have led to increased demands for new forms of multi-denominational and non-denominational schooling, as well as increased demands for Irish language schools. Pluralism in education was also a fundamental aspect of the Government White Paper on Education published in 1995. This was endorsed by the National Education Conference.The forum must, therefore, tackle important questions relating to the need for greater diversity in the face of rapid changes in the make-up of our community. Mr Quinn had previously said he would like to see half of the 3,000 Catholic primary schools transferred from Church control. When asked yesterday he explained that the Catholic Church had itself come up with that figure based on research it had carried out among Catholic parents. He also suggested that while he was not prescribing any recommendation, he did want change to reflect the new reality on the ground.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
