Survey shows ‘demand for diversity’
April 3, 2013
Educate Together named as preferred choice by majority of parents in study
The results of the recent Department of Education patronage survey were “significant” and “clearly show a demand for diversity”, the chief executive of the multidenominational Educate Together primary school organisation said yesterday.
Twenty-three of the 38 areas of the country surveyed had demonstrated demand for an immediate change in the existing school patronage, the department said in a statement this week. The majority of parents who took part in the survey named Educate Together as their preferred patron.
Educate Together chief exeecutive Paul Rowe said the organisation was “delighted that so many parents across the country want an Educate Together school in their community.
The Forum for Patronage and Pluralism has given parents in these communities the opportunity to express preference for the schools they want. We are honoured that so many communities have put their trust in Educate Together and our educational ethos.” He said the survey results were significant as they clearly showed demand for diversity of school-type existed across the country.
“Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn is to be commended for the forum initiative. It has given parents a real opportunity to choose the type of schools they want for their children’s education.”
The association representing vocational colleges has expressed concern about restrictions placed on patrons to promote their model to parents. The Irish Vocational Education Assocation gave a “qualified welcome” to the survey which found demand for its community national school model in two areas, Carrigaline in Co Cork and Celbridge Co Kildare. The restrictions meant potential patrons could spend €300 promoting themselves to parents in each survey area.
As the VEC’s community national school model was the “newest” available to parents, they needed to “be allowed to promote and advertise their merits, and parents need to be made aware” of it as a choice, association general secretary Michael Moriarty said. The VEC currently operates eight community national schools in the State.
Irish language patron An Foras Pátrúnachta was “delighted” to have been pre-ferred by parents in Birr, Co Offaly where there had been “strong demand” for a Gaelscoil for “quite a while”, general secretary Caoimhín ÓhEaghra said.
However the organisation raised concern about the use of a survey system to cater for a linguistic minority. An Foras Pátrúnachta is patron of 59 primary schools with two more opening next year.
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