‘Catholic first’ school admissions policies may be illegal
January 5, 2015
Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan aims to speed up process of switching patronage
School admissions policies run on a “Catholic first” basis may be in breach of both equality legislation and the Constitution, the State’s equality watchdog has been told.
A report commissioned by the Equality Authority – now part of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) – argues that article 44.2.4 of the Constitution puts an onus on Catholic schools to demonstrate exactly why positive discrimination in admissions is necessary to maintain their ethos.
The report, authored by Fergus Ryan, a lecturer in law at DIT, says: “In relation to the Catholic First policy, there is certainly at the very least a case to be answered that in its potential application to schools in receipt of state funding, the policy may be in breach of the Constitution . . . by excluding children from state-funded schools on the basis that they intend to exercise a constitutional right not to attend religious instruction therein.”
The report stops short, however, of recommending the authority take a test case on the issue.
Article 44.2.4 states that “legislation providing State aid for schools shall not discriminate between schools . . . nor be such as to affect prejudicially the right of any child to attend a school receiving public money”.
Protecting ethos
This is countered by section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000, which gives religious-run schools the right to administer admissions policies which protect their ethos.
Mr Ryan says the key point of law is that each school patron, or board of management, must show that it “is not merely desirable [in the eyes of the Catholic Church] but that it is essential to discriminate in order to maintain the school’s ethos”.
Fr Michael Drumm, chairman of Catholic Schools Partnership, the bishops’ education wing, said any suggestion that its admissions policies were unconstitutional were “speculation” in the absence of a test case.
He pointed in turn to constitutional protections allowing faith-based organisations to run their own affairs.
The IHREC said it was awaiting the outcome of a Supreme Court case on alleged discrimination against a Traveller at a Christian Brothers’ school in Clonmel, Co Tipperary before bringing further legal challenges on admissions policies. The Supreme Court is due to deliver its ruling this year on the case, which could have far reaching implications for the Equal Status Act.
Patronage issue
The legality of “Catholic first” admissions policies has come into sharper focus due to the lack of progress in divesting school patronage.
Speaking to The Irish Times in a personal capacity, the chairman of the forum on patronage and pluralism Prof John Coolahan said “there needs to be a carrot and a stick” to deliver change. Asked what sort of stick could be used, he suggested that grants might be cut in locations where schools refused to change patronage.
The Department of Education carried out surveys in 43 areas following the forum’s report in April 2012 and identified parental demand for change in 28 of them.
To date just one school – a Church of Ireland primary school in Co Mayo – has transferred to another patron, although two Catholic schools merged in Dublin 8 to create a vacant building for Educate Together.
Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan is seeking to accelerate the divestment process. She also wants clearer guidelines on how “standalone” Catholic schools – those in areas where there is no parental alternative – intend to accommodate children of other faiths and none.
It is been suggested, for example, that religious instruction might be timetabled either at the start or at the end of the school day to allow non-Catholic pupils to opt out with little fuss.
Fr Drumm said the church would early this year publish “a statement that will guide schools in best practice”. While he wouldn’t be drawn on the contents, he said it was due for publication in the spring, and he stressed that Catholic schools were already inclusive in nature.
www.irishtimes.com
Forum head calls on church to speed up schools handover
January 5, 2015
The Department of Education needs to wield a “stick” against the Catholic Church if it wants to make progress on the divestment of schools to other patrons, according to the chairman of the forum on patronage and pluralism.
Prof John Coolahan says the church’s refusal to take “a proactive stance” in promoting the divestment of schools undermined the process from the outset, and he suggests cuts in school funding might be considered to concentrate minds.
UN human rights monitors have criticised “the slow progress in increasing access to secular education” in Ireland and are warning the Government it faces fresh censure in the absence of reform.
Former minister for education Ruairí Quinn once talked about removing half of the State’s 3,100 primary schools from Catholic Church control to create a more diverse and inclusive system.
To date, however, the church has yet to hand over a single primary school to another patron, although it did merge two Catholic schools to create a vacant property for Educate Together.
One Church of Ireland school has transferred to Educate Together, the multidenominational patron which has also opened nine new primary schools in areas of growing populations.
Prof Coolahan said: “There needs to be a carrot and a stick and I think the stick wasn’t much applied as time went on.
“If there was no movement at all then I do think that you could say schools in this area – though this might be a bit crude – would have reduced capitation,” he added.
Educate Together
Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan has said she hopes to be able to announce this month plans for “three to four” further Educate Together schools, including in Tuam and New Ross.
These are two of 28 areas that have been earmarked for change on foot of parental surveys in select locations.
Prof Coolahan, who oversaw the forum’s main report in April 2012 and has contributed to subsequent update reports, suggests it was a mistake to leave the Catholic bishops, as patrons, to drive the reforms.
While they arranged for boards of management to meet parents and to discuss the merits of changing patronage, he said, “they rarely turned up themselves.
“They didn’t explain, ‘look, we would like this to happen, we think this should happen because we have concern for the public good – love your neighbour’.
“They have never taken a proactive, direct stance, using their offices to open people’s minds. They have done it at a distance.
“It was never going to happen if you were just going to leave it open like that. It always needed church and State to use their good offices at local level where there was a legitimacy of moving.”
Phasing out
In its latest report, the UN committee overseeing the implementation of the covenant on civil and political rights said it was concerned about the slow progress, not only in divesting patronage but also in creating non-denominational schools and in phasing out integrated religious curriculums in State schools.
Rapporteur for Ireland Yuval Shany told The Irish Times: “We do not have the power to sanction states but we would contend the State is under a legal obligation to take on board the recommendations in good faith.
“The way the Government undertakes these reforms is really up to the Government but it should go towards a system which offers the student options.”
www.irishtimes.com
Comórtas an Eolaí Óig 2015 do Bhunscoileanna
January 5, 2015
Foras Pátrúnachta Art Competition 2015
January 5, 2015
Our art competition was a great success last year and are delighted to announce that it will run again this school year 2014/2015!
This years competition is sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge and there will be top of the range prizes to be won.
We invite pupils from any of the primary or secondary schools under the patron of An Foras Pátrúnachta to take part in the competition. The theme for this year is ‘Gaeloideachas do Chách’.
There are five different categories, and included in the prizes to be won are smartphones,a Nintendo Wii, tablets and more!
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, said; “The compeition went brilliantly last year. The majority of schools took part and the standard was extremely high.
“There were brilliant prizes awarded to the winners last year and I’m pleased that this year we have more great prizes available. We’re thrilled that Foras na Gaeilge are sponsoring the competition this year, and the feedback we have recieved from schools already has been very positive.”
February 6th 2015 is the closing date for entries. The winners will be announced at Comhdháil an Fhorais Phátrúnachta on the 28th February 2015 in the Red Cow Moran Hotel.
More information available here from the Foras Pátrúnachta website: http://www.foras.ie/en/whats-new/081214-comortas-ealaine-an-fhorais-2015/
“Cic sa tóin” do cheannródaithe na naíonraí
January 5, 2015
Minor works grant to be paid to primary schools with temporary recognition
January 5, 2015
Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, TD, confirmed that 55 primary schools with temporary recognition will receive the minor works grant this year.
Since 2006 the grant has only been paid to schools with permanent recognition. The Minister’s decision will now result in every primary school in the country receiving the investment.
Speaking about the announcement Minister O’Sullivan said, “In the past number of years we have reformed how schools are established. Demographic demand and future enrolment projections are now a central part of school establishment. We can now be confident that every primary that is established will have strong enrolment numbers relatively soon after opening.”
“Given this reality I can see no reason to deny access to the minor works grant to schools with temporary recognition. Within the coming days the 55 schools with temporary recognition will receive their grant funding. I know this funding is used very effectively by school management and I am glad to be able to provide equal access to all schools to this support.”
The rates payable are €5,500 per school plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil. The grant is worth €6,425 for a 50 pupil school and more than €11,000 for a 300 pupil school.
The cost of paying the grant to 55 schools with temporary recognition is approximately €400,000
The total cost of the minor works grant in 2014 is approximately €28.5m
