More parents to vote on taking schools from Catholic control
January 14, 2013
PARENTS in 38 more towns and suburbs are being asked to decide whether they want to hand over a Catholic primary school to another patron.
It is part of the historic move to reduce the dominance of the church in primary education. It follows a similar exercise late last year, when parents in five areas voted in favour of greater choice.
As a result, the Catholic Church – which controls over 90pc of the country’s 3,000 primary schools – has been asked to hand over one in each of the five areas to the multi-denominational body, Educate Together, which had most support as an alternative patron.
Parents of all children up to 12 years in the 38 areas, which encompasses 311 schools, are being asked if they want change, and if so, who they would like to see operating their local primary schools.
The 38 towns and suburbs have stable populations and little prospect of any new school opening, so the only way to offer choice is to transfer the patronage of existing schools.
The bodies that have indicated a desire to take over a school in the areas are Vocational Education Committees (VECs), which have developed the Community National School model, the Irish language patron body, An Foras Patrunachta, Educate Together, and, in a small number of areas, the National Learning Network, which deals with pupils with special needs, and the Nigerian-based Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The surveys are going live today on www.education.ie, and will continue until February 8. Paper-based versions of the survey are also available on request. Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said it was “an historic opportunity” for parents to have a real say in the type of school their children attend.
Kildare town has been removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed because it already has an Educate Together school and An Foras Patrunachta will establish a Gaelscoil there next September. The Department of Education will run an information campaign on the issue.
www.independent.ie
School patron survey opens to parents
January 14, 2013
Voters in 38 areas given ‘historic opportunity’ to change patronage
Parents in 38 areas can vote from today for their preferred choice of primary school patron. The survey is designed to establish the level of demand from parents for diversity of school patronage in each of the towns and suburbs. At present, more than 90 per cent or 3,000 schools are under the remit of the Catholic Church. Parents of all children aged 12 and under can participate in the survey; this can be accessed online via education.ie until February 8th.
The survey initiative is in line with the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector. Last year, there was controversy about the outcome of surveys in the five towns chosen for the initial stage of the process: Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall in Dublin.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn claimed the results in the pilot areas showed a strong demand for change. However, Fr Michael Drumm of the Catholic Schools Partnership said only a small percentage of parents in some areas favour changes to school patronage. He claimed that only 25 per cent of relevant parents surveyed responded.
Fr Drumm said he could not understand 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 .”
If the latest survey backs change, the department will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies. The department hopes to begin the process of handing over Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies by September 2014. ‘ Real say’ Mr Quinn said the survey represents a “historic opportunity for parents to have a real say in the type of school they wish to send their children to, be it denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or other”.
There are 311 primary schools in the 38 areas which will be surveyed. The bodies which have indicated that they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in the identified areas are the VECs, An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together and, in a small number of areas, the National Learning Network and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
A comprehensive information campaign by the department in each of the areas begins today. Helpline: 1800 303621
www.irishtimes.com
Ógras i gCrois Mhic Lionnáin ag ceilúradh bliana ar an fhód
January 14, 2013
Surveys on primary school patronage rolled out to 38 areas across the country
January 14, 2013
Minister Quinn asks parents to indicate which patron bodies they would like to see running primary schools in their area.
Parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland are being asked by the Minister for Education and Skills what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools.
Surveys are going live today (Monday 14th January) and are an expansion of pilot surveys on primary school patronage which were conducted late last year in five towns.
The survey can be accessed on line via www.education.ie and parents or guardians of primary school going children and 0 to 5 year olds in the 38 towns and suburbs (list below) are being urged to fill it in. They will need to have their PPS number in order to complete the survey; however, these details are only being used for verification purposes.
The aim of the survey is to establish the level of demand from parents for diversity of school patronage in each of the towns. At present, some 96% of primary schools are under church patronage, with more than 90% or approximately 3,000 schools under the remit of the Catholic Church. This survey initiative follows on from the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector.
If parents indicate they would like a wider choice of patron, then the Department of Education and Skills (DES) will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.
“This is an historic opportunity for parents to have a real say in the type of school they wish to send their children to, be it denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or other,” said Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D.
“In the 38 towns and suburbs where the surveys are taking place, there is little prospect of any new schools opening as the population remains stable and there is enough capacity within existing schools. However, if parents demonstrate through this survey that they want a greater choice of primary school then we will work with existing patrons to transfer patronage to ensure they can send their children to a school which best reflects their own ethos and beliefs.”
The bodies which have indicated that they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in the identified areas are the VECs, An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together, and in a small number of areas the National Learning Network and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Kildare Town has been removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed, following consultation with patrons. The town already has an Educate Together school, opened in September 2011. There was also a recommendation to establish an all-Irish school in the town in coming years. Since then, an Foras Patrúnachta has produced sufficient evidence of demand for an all Irish school in Kildare and the establishment of a Gaelscoil will commence in September 2013.
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.
A comprehensive information campaign by the DES in each of the areas begins today and will include a leaflet drop to every household giving details of the survey and advertising on local radio and newspapers. A free helpline is also 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. Paper based versions of the survey are also available on request.
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes.
Parents and guardians of all 0 to 12 year olds in the 38 towns have from now until the 8th of February to complete the survey at www.education.ie.
List of 38 areas to be surveyed
- Ballina
- Ballinasloe
- Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/ Cherry Orchard
- Bandon
- Birr
- Buncrana
- Carrick-on-Suir
- Carrigaline
- Celbridge
- Clonmel
- Cobh
- Dublin 6
- Dungarvan
- Edenderry
- Enniscorthy
- Fermoy
- Kells (Ceanannas)
- Killarney
- Leixlip
- Longford
- Loughrea
- Malahide
- Monaghan
- Nenagh
- New Ross
- Passage West
- Portmarnock
- Roscommon
- Roscrea
- Rush
- Shannon
- Skerries
- Thurles
- Tipperary
- Tuam
- Westport
- Wicklow
- Youghal
There are 311 primary schools in the 38 areas.
Meeting re new primary school for Stepaside
January 14, 2013
Diary Date for 2013 – there will be a meeting in Sandyford Community Centre at 19.30 on the 14/01/13 about the new Gaelscoil in Stepaside, due to open in September 2013. The meeting is being organised by the school’s patron, An Foras Pátrúnachta, and further information is available here:
- Website: http://www.foras.ie/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFPatrunachta
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/An-Foras-P%C3%A1tr%C3%BAnachta/185008058242337
- Blog: http://afpatrunachta.wordpress.com/
Éascaitheoir á lorg le tionscnamh ‘Scéal na Gaeilge’ a fhorbairt
January 11, 2013
Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara ar chuairt go Coláiste Feirste
January 11, 2013
Múinteoir Gaeilge páirtaimseartha
January 11, 2013
School does enrolment U-turn after 20 appeals
January 11, 2013
A Cork all-Irish school has reversed its decision not to enrol a third first-year class next September after more than 20 appeals were made to the Department of Education.
Gaelcholáiste Mhuire in the North Monastery — the city’s only northside all-Irish secondary school — was accused of changing the goalposts when about 50 of the 110-plus applicants to start there later this year were refused enrolment before Christmas.
While management were keen to accommodate three classes, the Edmund Rice Schools Trust which owns the school wanted to restrict numbers to avoid putting strain on the school’s facilities. The trustees want any expansion to be managed properly so that the necessary building works would be carried out to meet any rising demand for the school, which is under the same ownership as the adjoining North Monastery Secondary School.
But public representatives and parents claimed they were led to understand when applying last autumn that there would be three first-year classes, the same as in three of the last four years.
After a series of meetings over the last month between the board, parents, and the trustees, a decision has now been made to admit the third class.
It means good news for 28 boys and girls who had been refused a place, most of whom are understood to have lodged appeals to the Department of Education.
The chair of the school’s board of management, Paul Moynihan, said it had been working with the trustees to resolve a number of issues.
“The trustees held a number of concerns as regards the capacity of the school to accommodate the numbers that were being proposed for the 2013/14 academic year. Until these concerns were satisfied the trustees were unwilling to approve increased numbers,” he said.
“The necessary assurances have now been given by school management to the trustees that has enabled them to give their approval to the admission of increased numbers.” Local councillor Tom Gould said the development was good news.
“I think common sense has prevailed, it’s the right decision for the children. It’s a fabulous school with a great reputation and that is why places are so sought after and hopefully work can be done over the next year to ensure we won’t be facing the same situation again.”
www.irishexaminer.com
Irish Classes with Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain
January 11, 2013
Classes at Teach Mhic Reachtain run throughout the year, September – June. The classes are tailored to your needs – whether you are a complete novice or a fluent speaker. The classes are expertly and professionally planned and run for 10 weeks at a time.
There are night classes, coffee mornings and intensive day courses at all levels available. All information can be found on http://www.mhicreachtain.com/ or by calling (028) 90 749688.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
