The process to transfer schools under the Catholic Church to other patrons begins
October 22, 2012
The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, announced today the beginning of the process of divesting schools under the Catholic Church. A survey is to be conducted to ascertain what type of schools parents want for their area.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta, stated that ‘The Department of Education and Skills was giving parents more choices, under this process, as to what type of school they wanted in terms of the language and spiritual ethos of the school’. Ó hEaghra continued ‘An Foras Pátrúnachta are able to address the demands for diversity that parents have both in terms of Irish Medium education and also in terms of spiritual ethos. We are the only patron who can offer parents a choice of spiritual ethos which include Multidenominational, Interdenominational and Catholic.”
The survey is beginning in five areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Whitehall (including Kilmore West and Beaumont), Trim and Tramore. The Minister is asking parents in these areas to complete the online survey before the 9th of November 2012. The survey can be accessed on the Department’s website at www.education.ie or all information can be found at www.foras.ie.
Ó hEaghra stated that this is a great opportunity for parents who would like to promote Irish Medium in their area. It is important that parents complete the survey and select an Irish Medium School under An Foras Pátrúnachta. He went on to say that it is equally important to explain the benefits of Irish Medium Education to other parents and to seek their support.
An Foras Pátrúnachta has been providing diversity and addressing parents wishes since it was founded in 1993. Comprehensive information relating to this process is available at An Foras Pátrúnachta’s website (www.foras.ie) and we will be available to provide information on the benefits of Irish Medium Education, the multi denominational ethos and about us as a patron.
For media information, contact:
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra:: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
Siobhán Seoighe :: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
New blog: AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA
Cúntóir Naíonra
October 22, 2012
Surveys offer parents chance to pick preferred school type
October 22, 2012
Parents in five areas where just one of the 26 local primary schools is multi-denominational will have a chance to pick their preferred school type from this morning.
The surveys are the first of 44 to be carried out before Christmas in areas where there is little or no choice apart from Catholic or other religious schools. They may lead to the landmark step of local bishops handing over school facilities if parental demand for alternative patrons emerges. The use of the questionnaire by families in Arklow, Co Wicklow; Castlebar, Co Mayo; Tramore, Co Waterford; Trim, Co Meath; and Whitehall in Dublin will be used as a pilot exercise for the remaining 39 areas where Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has ordered information on demand for different school patrons.
As well as limited school patron choices, the areas have settled populations, making them ineligible in the near future for new schools to be built and offered to non-religious patrons. The parents of existing primary pupils and preschool children are being asked if they want a greater choice of patronage of school type, to include preferences for English or all-Irish schools and mixed or single-sex provision.
The Department of Education asked prospective patrons who might be interested in running a primary school, in 44 areas in June after publication of the report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector set up by Mr Quinn last year. The five areas in the pilot survey have 26 primary schools between them but the only multi-denominational school in all five is in Whitehall in Dublin.
“Modern Ireland is hugely diverse and we have to be sure that our schools cater for this diversity. While we owe a debt to religious bodies for their contribution to education, there is now the potential for change within the primary patronage system to better reflect our society,” Mr Quinn said.
“I am urging all eligible parents to make sure that their voices are heard by taking part in these surveys. This is a historic opportunity for parents to reshape the primary school landscape for generations to come.”
* Pilot area surveys are online at www.education.ie and a helpline is available on 1800 30 36 21.
www.irishexaminer.com
Parents to begin voting on who runs their local primary schools
October 22, 2012
PARENTS are to start voting on who they want to run their local school, in a historic step for Irish education.
The move is aimed at reducing the dominance of the Catholic Church in primary education and handing over some of the 92pc of schools it currently controls to other patron bodies. The church agrees that greater choice is required to reflect recent cultural and ethnic changes and will divest schools to other patrons in line with parental demand.
From today, surveys are being carried out in five of 44 initial areas where the Department of Education has identified a potential demand for greater diversity because of limited choice and no plans to open a new school. The five areas are: Arklow, Co Wicklow; Castlebar, Co Mayo; Tramore, Co Waterford; Trim, Co Meath and Whitehall, Dublin, while the remaining 39 will vote in November.
Parents and guardians of preschool and primary schoolchildren in each area will be surveyed and they will have to supply the PPS number of the parent in receipt of child benefit to confirm that they are eligible to participate. Parents will initially be asked if they want a wider choice of school patrons, and will then be asked to vote in order of preference for the alternative patrons who have expressed an interest in running schools in their areas. They’ll also be asked if they prefer single sex or co-educational schools and if they would prefer an Irish-speaking or English-speaking school.
The Department of Education will run local media campaigns to get the word out, while information will also be available in schools and from the patron bodies. The survey will largely be conducted online, but there will also be a paper-based option for parents, and surveys must be submitted before November 9.
If a demand for alternative patronage is identified, the department will explore with the existing patrons the transfer of patronage of schools. It is impossible to estimate how many of the 3,000 Catholic primary schools will ever be handed over, and at what pace, but Education Minister Ruairi Quinn wants to name the first batch by next June.
The surveys follow on from recommendations from the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, which set out a roadmap for the handover process.As well as providing greater choice on grounds of religion, the advisory body also highlighted a need for more allIrish schools. Mr Quinn described it as a historic opportunity for parents to reshape the primary school landscape for generations to come and urged all those eligible to make sure that their voices were heard. He said for many parents this would be the first time they would have a real say in the type of primary school they want their children to go to, whether it was denominational, multi-denominational, allIrish or another kind.
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group and detailed reports on the outcomes will be published. The department has set up a free helpline for anyone who has any difficulties with the survey – 1800 303621 – which will be open Monday to Friday, 9.30am-1pm and 2pm-5pm.
www.independent.ie
Would-be patrons to face strict code of conduct rules
October 22, 2012
Strict rules that include a ban on leaflet drops and budget limits on marketing material have been applied to prospective patrons to ensure a level playing field.
The code of conduct was drawn up in consultation with the five patron bodies applying to take over Catholic schools in areas where demand for change emerges from the parental survey process that begins this week. The local city or county Vocational Education Committee (VEC) has applied to become a patron in all 43 areas where expressions of interest have been received, as has all-Irish schools’ patron An Foras Pátrúnachta. Educate Together is an applicant for all but five areas.
The National Learning Network, the training and employment division of the Rehab Group, has expressed interest in becoming patron to divested schools in five areas. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, a Nigerian-founded church which applied last year to be a patron in three areas of Dublin where new primary schools are planned, will also be an option for parents in five areas to be surveyed.
The Department of Education said the code of conduct is designed to ensure the surveys are conducted in a reasonable manner, avoiding contentious commentary. Among the key features is a requirement that existing and prospective patrons stick to describing the ethos of schools under their own patronage. “No subjective statements about, direct commentary on, or descriptions of schools under other forms of patronage should be made,” the code states.
Other requirements include:
* A spending limit of €300 per patron on information provision in each survey area, up to a maximum of €4,000 per organisation or group of organisations across all 44 areas;
* No direct canvassing parents through door-to-door canvassing, leaflet drops, telephone or email campaigns;
* Equal representation must be provided for patrons and prospective patrons at public meetings or media discussions.
The Department of Education will publish detailed reports on the surveys, which should be completed by the end of the year.
www.irishexaminer.com
Minister Quinn asks parents for their views on patron options for primary schools
October 22, 2012
Parents in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall first to be surveyed in pilot scheme.
In a new initiative, parents in a number of selected areas are being asked what patrons they would like to see running their local primary schools.
Earlier this year, the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector made recommendations to the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. on the divesting of patronage where there is a stable population and a demand for diversity of school types.
Following on from these recommendations, the Minister has commenced a new process to examine the possibility of transferring some schools to other patron bodies in 44 areas around the country.
Starting today, parents of pre-school and primary school children in five initial areas are being surveyed. The areas are Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall (including Kilmore West and Beaumont) in Dublin.
A code of conduct has been worked out in consultation with the patron bodies which will limit expenditure on the provision of information. The code is designed to ensure the surveys are conducted in a reasonable manner, avoiding contentious commentary.
Launching the initiative, Minister Quinn said, “For many parents this will be the first time they will have a real say in the type of primary school they want their children to go to, whether it is denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or another kind.”
“Modern Ireland is hugely diverse and we have to be sure that our schools cater for this diversity. Whilst we owe a debt to religious bodies for their contribution to education, there is now the potential for change within the primary patronage system to better reflect our society.”
Parents of pre-school and primary school children in these locations will be asked to complete surveys stating their preferences for the type of school they would like their children to attend.
The intention is to find out if parents would prefer a wider choice of school patron than is currently available to them. The responses of parents will be used to decide what changes, if any, should be made to widen the availability of other types of primary school in these locations.
The existing patrons within the five pilot areas are An Foras Pátrúnachta and bishops from the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland.
The bodies which have expressed interest in becoming patrons of divested schools in the five areas are An Foras Pátrúnachta, Educate Together, VECs, the National Learning Network, and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Minister Quinn continued, “I am urging all eligible parents to make sure that their voices are heard by taking part in these surveys. This is a historic opportunity for parents to re-shape the primary school landscape for generations to come.”
“After the piloting of the survey in the first five areas, we will be rolling it out to the balance of the 44 areas next month.”
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes.
If the surveys identify demand for alternative patronage in these areas, the Department will explore with the existing patrons the transfer of patronage of schools.
The survey is available at: www.education.ie and all eligible parents or guardians are asked to complete it on-line by 9th November. Parents or guardians are advised to have their PPS number to hand when accessing the on-line survey as this will be requested for validation purposes.
A free helpline is available in the Department for anyone who has any difficulties in completing the survey: 1800 303621.The helpline will be open from 9.30 to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
If parents cannot access the online survey, a paper based version can be requested by ringing the freephone number 1800 303621.
ENDS
Updated list of areas to be included in initial phase of surveys
Arklow
Ballina
Ballinasloe
Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/ Cherry Orchard[1]
Bandon
Birr
Buncrana
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrigaline
Castlebar
Celbridge
Clonmel
Cobh
Dublin 6
Dungarvan
Edenderry
Enniscorthy
Fermoy
Kells (Ceanannas)
Kildare
Killarney
Leixlip
Longford
Loughrea
Malahide
Monaghan
Nenagh
New Ross
Passage West
Portmarnock
Roscommon
Roscrea
Rush
Shannon
Skerries
Thurles
Tipperary
Tramore
Trim
Tuam
Westport
Wicklow
Youghal
Whitehall (including Kilmore West and Beaumont)
Change in patronage of schools will be a slow process – Ruairi Quinn
October 22, 2012
Minister Quinn said that there are 3,200 primary schools in Ireland, 93% of which are under Roman Catholic patronage, for historical reasons.
He said there are a lot of people who want a Roman Catholic education for their children and there are many others who want something.
He said what the department is trying to do is to take a historical legacy and respect the voyage of young children through the educational process, while at the same time providing for a diversity of choice of parents.
Minister Quinn said that there is an online survey that parents can be take part in.
It is open to parents with pre-school and primary school going children in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall in Dublin.
Surveys were recommended by the Forum on Pluralism and Patronage which published its report earlier this year.
The report of the forum suggested that up to 50 schools in areas where choice is limited or non-existent should change patron to provide for diversity.
Parents of young children in the five aforementioned towns will be surveyed to see what kind of school they want.
If there was a demand for change, they will talk to existing school patrons about the transfer of schools. A further 39 areas will then be surveyed.
The first such transfers are likely to take place in the capital.
The Catholic archdiocese is currently engaged in what it calls a “reorganisation” of its schools.
RTÉ news understands that one such reorganisation is close to completion and could result in the transfer of one Catholic school to multi-denominational status in the very near future.
Minister insists Junior Cert overhaul will go ahead
October 22, 2012
The major overhaul of the Junior Certificate will proceed as planned despite teachers’ claims they have not been consulted, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn insisted yesterday.
While the executive of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (Asti) met to consider the changes announced last month by Mr Quinn, he was outlining the plans to school principals at their annual conference in Galway. Among the planned changes to be phased in from 2014 is that teachers will set and mark exams and project work for their own students. Irish, English, and maths will continue to be set by the State Examinations Commission, for a few years. Mr Quinn told the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals that the changes will go ahead as announced.
“The decisions have been made, that’s my responsibility as a politician and minister — to make decisions and then consult people about how to implement them,” Mr Quinn said.
“It’s an important distinction. Some of our colleagues in the education space have confused the two.”
An Asti statement said its standing committee has made plans for a consultation among its members over the coming months, with the findings to be given to Mr Quinn after a national conference in April.
“There is a lot of anger in schools that the views and experiences of teachers were not sought before these reforms were announced,” Asti president Gerry Breslin said.
The plan was based largely around a draft framework produced by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, which includes teacher union representatives, a year ago. Mr Quinn went further than its recommendations by making the entire exam and assessment plans school-based.
“While the Junior Certificate has flaws, one of its greatest strengths is that it has a high status in the minds of students, teachers, and parents. The decision to axe State certification at junior cycle level will have a negative impact on students’ educational experiences,” Mr Breslin said.
Mr Quinn said yesterday there should be no additional work for teachers and that training will be provided on assessment methods and moderation procedures to ensure fairness and transparency. School work done in second and third year will be worth 40% of marks in each subject and will be set and marked by students’ own teachers. Mr Quinn said he had incorrectly referred to this element as continuous assessment. “It’s not continuous assessment, it’s periodic work programme assessment, I want to clarify that,” he said.
www.irishexaminer.com
Teachers reaffirm opposition to Junior Cert changes
October 22, 2012
Second-level teachers have reaffirmed their opposition to the proposed changes in the Junior Cert.
The Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) is to begin “a comprehensive programme of consultation with teachers in second-level schools all over Ireland” on the new plans.
The decision follows a meeting of the ASTI standing committee or executive yesterday which reaffirmed the union’s view that junior cycle reform must be educationally sound and workable.
The consultation initiative will include meetings with teachers in schools and a national conference in April 2013. Findings will be communicated to the Minister and other stakeholders.
www.irishtimes.com
Gabhann Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta comhghairdeas le Scoil na Fuiseoige
October 22, 2012
