The release of a nationwide survey to all parents of children aged 0-12 by the Department of Education and Youth has been welcomed by Ireland’s Education & Training Boards. The survey found here , aims to assess the appetite amongst parents for multi-denominational, co-educational and Irish-medium education.
Education and Training Boards, the patrons of Community National Schools and Community Colleges across the country, which are state-funded, co-educational, multi-denominational primary and post-primary schools, and the largest provider of education through the medium of Irish, are calling on all parents of children within this cohort, as well as school staff and boards of management to participate in the survey and have their say.
Commenting today, Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the national representative body of Ireland’s ETBs, said: “This is an important opportunity to inform the future educational landscape across Ireland. It’s a chance to ensure our schools, in the future, reflect the diverse society we now live in. We would encourage parents, school staff, and boards of management to take time to complete the survey, and to access the resources and information provided by the Department.”
“While people are naturally cautious about change”, he continued, “it’s important to note, that when a school changes to become, for example, a Community National School under the patronage of the local ETB, lots of the great things that are already in place remain the same. The curriculum, the staff, and extra-curricular activities all remain as they were. The main thing that changes is that the ethos in a Community National School includes all children and their families equally throughout the school day, rather than prioritising any one faith.”
“Instead of doing Catholic religion classes only, for example, children learn about different religious and non-religious worldviews, and the religions and beliefs of their classmates. For families who are Catholic, there is still the option for children to make their First Holy Communion or their Confirmation – the only difference is that preparation for the sacraments happens outside of the regular school day.”
Data on Religious Beliefs demonstrates “clear need for more diverse school options”
Figures gathered by ETBI show that, currently, only 156 of the 3089 primary schools nationally are multi-denominational (i.e. 5% of all schools). The vast majority – 95% – fall under the patronage of religious bodies, primarily the Catholic Church. Data from the most recent Census illustrates a mismatch between the religious beliefs of people in Ireland, and the educational options currently on offer. In the 2022 Census, 31% of people in Ireland said they do not identify as Catholic, with over 14% identifying as non-religious and significant increases in other religious beliefs.
Commenting on the data, Dr Séamus Conboy, Director of Schools with ETBI, with responsibility for the development of the Community National School model nationwide said: “The Census data demonstrates a clear need for more diverse primary school options for families right across the country. A considerable proportion of our population is not adequately served by the current primary education system, where most schools are run by the Catholic Church and promote a Catholic ethos.”
“In our own research, we assessed the appetite for multi-denominational schools nationwide. Our findings show 61% of people nationally would prefer to have a multi-denominational body providing education rather than a religious body. It’s worth noting that even amongst people who identify as Catholic, there is a preference for multi-denominational education. These findings leave little doubt that the current situation must change.”
Further information about the Schools Survey 2030 currently being run by the Department of Education is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/primary-school-survey/
