School patronage survey queried
December 14, 2012
Senior figure in Catholic education says few want patronage changes Some Catholic-run schools to be turned over to other patron bodies next year
Only a tiny percentage of parents in some areas favour changes to school patronage, according to a senior figure in Catholic education.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has claimed the results of parental surveys in five pilot areas show a strong demand for change. After the publication of the survey results this week, the Department of Education hopes to begin the process of handing over Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies by September 2014.
However, Father Michael Drumm of t he Catholic Schools Partnership maintains only 25 per cent of relevant parents in the areas surveyed responded to the survey.
“I am not clear as to why the Department of Education cannot publish the exact statistic on the percentage of parents who participated. I think people should look at the real figures. Take Arklow – those who want change are parents of 80 children in a school population of 1,965. That is only 4 per cent .’’ Parents surveyed Parents in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall in Dublin were surveyed on school patronage last month.
Parents in 39 other areas – also identified as those where the Catholic Church is overrepresented – will be surveyed next month.
Mr Quinn has said he would like to see 50 per cent of all schools divested from Catholic control. Yesterday, Father Drumm said the survey results did not provide a mandate for this kind of radical change.
“Those who expressed an opinion in favour of change amount in each of the five areas to less than 10 per cent of parents.’’ Consultation process “It must be noted that this is not a survey in the ordinary sense of the term as it is not based on a representative sample. Rather it is a consultation process with parents. What we learned is that close to 10 per cent of parents with children in Catholic schools would prefer another form of patronage. The partners should work together to reconfigure the system so that it responds to this level of demand for additional forms of patronage in a particular area.”
In other reaction, the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference said the survey results show “significant affirmation of Catholic schools. In looking to the future it is clear that a very large number of parents wish to have their children educated in Catholic schools.’’
In looking to the future, it says Catholic patrons will need to consult all stakeholders in Catholic schools as they seek to “reconfigure the system to take account of the minority of parents who desire a change in patronage.’’
Over the next six months, the Catholic Church will be asked to identify schools which could be divested in the five pilot areas.
www.irishtimes.com
Bitesize Irish Gaelic – Competition
December 13, 2012
Bitesize Irish Gaelic is an Irish language-learning company based in Limerick, Ireland. They have recently released an album designed to help you learn the Irish (Gaelic) language on the go.
The album “Learn Irish With Eoin” is a new way to learn Irish (Gaelic) recorded by Eoin – a native Irish speaker who explains the concepts to you in English.
The album is just over 2 hours long, has 16 tracks in total and is download-only.
“Learn Irish With Eoin” is available on iTunes and it makes a great gift this Christmas.
Bitesize Irish Gaelic have given us a copy of the album to give away. All you have to do is e-mail them at: info@eteanga.ie
We’ll announce the winner on December 17th.
Further information is available at www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com.
Decision on future of Irish groups in 2013
December 13, 2012
The future of 19 Irish language organisations is still uncertain as ministers from both the Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive yesterday postponed making a final decision on a new funding structure for the sector until spring 2013.
Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Dennihan TD as well as Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny Mcginley TD met with their counterparts Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilin MLA, and Junior Minister Jonathan Bell MLA at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh yesterday.
It was expected that the ministers were to sign off on a new funding structure which has been sanctioned by the board of language body Foras na Gaeilge.
However a statement issued after the meeting confirms that the funding structure will be discussed at the next meeting of the council in the spring.
It was the NSMC which initially directed Foras na Gaeilge to undertake a review of the Irish language voluntary sector in 2009 .
However there were fears that many of the organisations would be shut down under the controversial ‘Samhail Nua Mhaoinithe’ proposal first mooted in 2010.
That funding structure was rejected earlier this year and Foras na Gaeilge have since been working on a new funding model for the sector.
Organisations currently core-funded by Foras na Gaeilge include Irish language groups such as Altram, An tÁisaonad, An tOireachtas, Glór na nGael, Cumann na bhFiann, Comhaltas Uladh, Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Comhlachas Náisiúnta Drámaíochta, Comhluadar, Conradh na Gaeilge, Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta, Forbairt Feirste, Gael Linn, Gaelscoileanna Teo, Iontaobhas Ultach, Pobal, Raidió Fáilte and Raidió na Life.
The organisations have been sanctioned interim funding until June 2013.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Stiúrthóir Naíscoile
December 13, 2012
Cuntóir Naíscoile
December 13, 2012
Church to identify schools it can divest
December 13, 2012
Handing over of Catholic-run schools to other patrons could begin by 2014
Survey finds Educate Together preferred alternative patron in five pilot areas
INTO says any consultation during the coming months must include teachers
The process of handing over Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies could begin by September 2014.
In a landmark move, the Catholic Church will be asked to identify schools which could be divested in five areas where parents say in a public survey they want a wider choice of school patron.
The multidenominational group Educate Together is poised to take over the management of schools in these five areas after it emerged as the preferred alternative patron in the survey.
The surveys were conducted on a pilot basis in five areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall in Dublin. Parents in 39 other areas – also identified as those where the Catholic Church is over-represented – will be surveyed next month.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn insists the survey results show strong parental demand for a greater choice of patron. However, the very low turnout in some areas – less than 40 per cent – will be seized on by critics as evidence that the public is not greatly exercised about changes to school patronage.
The department says there was “an encouraging level of interest from parents” in the online surveys. These were governed by a code of conduct which limited spending and publicity by all patrons. This may be a factor in explaining the relatively low turnout.
In Whitehall, for example, less than 1,000 of close to 2,500 parents of school-going children participated. Overall, 1,788 valid survey responses were received, representing 3,459 children in the five areas.
Mr Quinn will now ask the Catholic bishop in each of the five pilot areas “to consider the reconfiguration options open to him which would allow sufficient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate t his demand f or greater choice”.
The Minister is requesting each of the patrons to consult their local school communities. The department is requesting an interim response in three months and a final response in six months.
Last night the INTO said any consultation planned during the coming months must include the teaching staff.
Paul Rowe of Educate Together said the survey confirmed that parents would like a choice of school type, and that many had a preference for Educate Together schools.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin of Labour said he was delighted to see the public demand for change. This survey was never an attempt to criticise local schools but an attempt by this Government to engage with parents at a local level.
What parents want
Of those parents seeking a wider choice of patron, Educate Together was the first preference of 56 per cent to 76 per cent of parents
An Forás Patrúnachta was first choice for between 6 per cent and 26 per cent of parents, and the VECs first choice for 10 per cent to 18 per cent
The number of parents who supported a wider choice of patron ranged from 37 per cent to 50 per cent
Those who did not want to see more choice ranged from 35 per cent to 44 per cent Based on surveys in five pilot areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall
www.irishtimes.com
Bishops get 6 months to respond on patronage
December 13, 2012
Catholic bishops have been given six months to respond to the demand for alternative primary schools in five specific areas where the Department of Education conducted a survey among parents.
The deadline has been set by Ruairi Quinn, the education minister, after publishing a report on the five pilot surveys, while parents in a further 39 areas will be asked for their views on primary patronage.
The report contains the attitudes of parents of 2,544 primary pupils and 915 pre-school children, and recommends school buildings be freed up to allow an Educate Together school be set up in each of the five areas.
Although fewer than 25% of parents with children aged 12 or under responded in two areas, support for a wider choice of patronage ranged from 37% in Castlebar, Co Mayo, to just over half in Tramore, Co Waterford. The numbers who would send their children to a school run by an alternative patron was between one quarter and just over one-in-three, and 35% to 44% did not support a wider choice of patrons.
The five areas are among 44 identified as having little or no choice of primary school other than those under the patronage of local bishops.
Among parents who want greater choice, multi-denominational group Educate Together was significantly preferred in all five areas. There was strong support for all-Irish schools patron An Foras Pátrúnachta in Arklow (26%) and Tramore (21%), and one-in-five parents who wanted more choice in Tramore opted for the local vocational education committee.
Mr Quinn said while many parents were happy with the schools available in their area, there was a clear demand from others for more choice.
“I will now ask the main patron in each area, the Catholic bishop or archbishop, to consider the reconfiguration options open to him which would allow suffic-ient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate this choice,” he said.
Mr Quinn wants their interim responses, based on local school consultations, within three months and a final response in six months.
Fr Michael Drumm, chair of the Catholic Schools Partnership, which represents bishops and religious orders, said the responses show 5% to 10% of parents want alternative schools for their children. His interpretation is based on an assumption that those who did not respond do not want any change to current school choices.
“There’s clearly a huge interest in Catholic schooling but there is also a clear need to reconfigure the system for the minority of parents who want additional forms of patronage. Those who told us the level of demand was 50% were clearly wrong,” he said.
www.irishexaminer.com
Pilot surveys on parental patronage preferences show demand for diversity
December 12, 2012
Minister for Education publishes Report on the surveys of parental preferences on primary school patronage in five pilot areas
Surveys undertaken in five pilot areas on primary school patronage show that there is parental demand for a greater choice of patron in each town.
The surveys were conducted in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall as part of the Minister for Education & Skills’ response to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector. These five areas were chosen to pilot the survey before it is extended to the balance of 44 towns identified following the Forum Report.
The surveys show that in the five areas Educate Together has emerged as the first choice of alternative patron. Each of the five towns already has an existing Gaelscoil, which is capable of accommodating the demand expressed for Irish language medium schools.
Publishing the Department’s report on the five surveys to the New Schools Establishment Group, the body tasked with verifying the information, Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D. said, “Parents have been given a voice through this survey process to express a preference for the types of schools they want to send their children to. While many are happy with the schools already available in their area, there is a clear demand from others for greater choice.”
“I will now ask the main patron in each area, the Catholic Bishop or Archbishop, to consider the re-configuration options open to him which would allow sufficient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate this choice.”
The Minister is requesting each of the patrons to consult with their local school communities. The Department is requesting an interim response in three months and a final response in six months.
Minister Quinn has also announced that the survey will be rolled out to further areas in early January. “Parents from the other towns identified following the Forum Report on Patronage will be able to express their views on the choice of primary schools in their towns via the survey from the 9th of January for one month.”
The report published today outlines in detail the result of the surveys carried out over three weeks, beginning in late October. Parents of pre-school and primary school going children were asked to take part in a survey, with almost 99% doing so on-line, to determine if there is demand for a wider choice of patron in their locality.
The aim of the survey was to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice of patronage in primary schools in the areas. Each town has a relatively stable population and therefore little prospect of a new school opening there in coming years. A total of 1,836 valid survey responses were received. These represented 3,494 children in the five areas.
The number of parents who supported a wider choice of patron ranged from 37% to 50% of respondents in the five areas. The percentage of parents who said they would send their children to an alternative school patron if available ranged from 26% to 36%. While those who did not want to see more choice ranged from 34% to 44% of respondents.
On their preference for English or Irish medium schools, 70% to almost 80% of respondents chose English medium schools, while the preference for Irish medium instruction ranged from almost 10% to 21%.
Of those parents seeking wider choice of patron, Educate Together was the first preference of 58% to 76% of parents, An Forás Patrúnachta was first choice for between 6% to 26% of parents and the VECs ranged from 10% to 19%.
Minister Quinn concluded by thanking all the primary school patron bodies and the education partners for their co-operation to date with the surveys and said that he looked forward to the continued positive engagement of all parties so that diversity of choice can become a reality across the country.
EDUCATION.IE
Patronage change sought in surveys
December 12, 2012
The Department of Education is set to press ahead with the process of handing over Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies after the results of parent surveys were published today.
The Department insists the surveys show strong parental demand for a greater choice of patron.
But the very low turnout in some areas – less than 40 per cent- will be seized on by critics as evidence the public is not greatly exercised about changes to school patronage.
The surveys were conducted on a pilot basis in five areas Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall. Shortly , they will be rolled out in 44 other areas which have been identified as those where the Catholic church may be over represented.
In the five areas, the multi-denominational group Educate Together emerged as the first choice of alternative patron. Each of the five areas already has an existing Gaelscoil, which is capable of accommodating the demand expressed for Irish language medium schools.
“Parents have been given a voice through this survey process to express a preference for the types of schools they want to send their children to. While many are happy with the schools already available in their area, there is a clear demand from others for greater choice,” Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said.
“I will now ask the main patron in each area, the Catholic Bishop or Archbishop, to consider the re-configuration options open to him which would allow sufficient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate this choice.”
Mr Quinn is requesting each of the patrons to consult with their local school communities.
The Department is requesting an interim response in three months and a final response in six months.
Mr Quinn has also announced that the survey will be rolled out to further areas in early January. “Parents from the other towns identified following the Forum Report on Patronage will be able to express their views on the choice of primary schools in their towns via the survey from the 9th of January for one month.”
The report published today outlines in detail the result of the surveys carried out over three weeks, beginning in late October.
Parents of pre-school and primary school children were asked to take part in a survey, with almost 99 per cent doing so online, to determine if there is demand for a wider choice of patron in their locality.
The aim of the survey was to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice of patronage in primary schools in the areas.
Each town has a relatively stable population and therefore little prospect of a new school opening there in coming years. A total of 1,788 valid survey responses were received. These represented 3,459 children in the five areas.
The number of parents who supported a wider choice of patron ranged from 37 per cent to 50 per cent of respondents in the five areas. The percentage of parents who said they would send their children to an alternative school patron if available ranged from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. While those who did not want to see more choice ranged from 35 per cent to 44 per cent of respondents.
On their preference for the English or Irish language school medium, 70 per cent to almost 80 per cent of respondents chose English language schools, while the preference for instruction in the Irish language ranged from almost 10 per cent to 21 per cent.
Of those parents seeking wider choice of patron, Educate Together was the first preference of 56 per cent to 76 per cent of parents, An Forás Pátrúnachta was the first choice for between 6 per cent to 26 per cent of parents and the VECs ranged from 10 per cent to 18 per cent.
Number of responses in the five pilot areas :
* Arklow: 384 responses, representing 706 of the 1,965 pupils in primary schools in the area.
*Castlebar: 465 responses, representing 932 of the 2,261 pupils in the area.
*Tramore: 276 responses , representing 563 of the 1,644 pupils in the area.
*Trim: 300 responses, representing 588 of the 1,540 pupils in the area.
*Whitehall: 546 responses, representing 987 of the 2,449 pupils in the area.
Éileamh ar éagsulacht i mbunscoileanna na tíre
December 12, 2012
