The Department of Education and Youth has launched a survey to assess demand for different types of primary schools. Its aim is to expand parental choice in education. Parents, principals and school staff, along with Boards of Management, have been asked to participate in the survey. It can be accessed and completed online. The Department claims it is the biggest survey of its kind and it will give “a comprehensive, nationwide picture of parental preferences…. the findings will inform future school planning and support more diverse school provision that reflects the values and needs of modern Ireland”.
The survey involves the following questions: Would you prefer your primary school to be a co-educational school or a single-sex school? Would you prefer your primary school to operate under a denominational (religious) patron or to operate under a multi-denominational (non-religious) patron? And would you prefer your primary school to provide education primarily through the English language or through the Irish language? I fully support this survey of stakeholders in the primary school system. I encourage all those eligible to participate in the survey. Hopefully, the results of the survey will convince the Department that there is support for the denominational educational system. But results also should empower the Department to engage in a process of divestment in consultation with patrons to accommodate parents who do not want to identify with religious patronage and the ethos it promotes.
The Department highlighted the fact that 90 per cent of primary schools are denominational under the patronage of the Catholic Church with a Catholic ethos. The Catholic hierarchy has repeatedly stated that they are prepared to divest Catholic schools, thus offering a wider range of educational opportunities to children and parents who are non-religious. The Catholic Church does not wish to have a monopoly on education. However, the divestment process has proved to be challenging as the majority of parents in most areas has not been supportive of change. The urgent need for divestment is frequently highlighted. In a somewhat similar vein, General Secretary of the Education and Training Board in Ireland, Paddy Lavelle, argues for a switch to a multi-denominational primary education model. He claims that this would not erase the impact of faith on students of religious families. “For families who are Catholic, there is still the option for children to make their First Holy Communion or their Confirmation – the only difference is that preparation for the sacraments happens outside of the regular school day.”
As a Chaplain to several schools, it is a daily privilege and rich experience to witness the life, energy, enthusiasm and rich diversity that is the wonderful story of all our school communities. Catholic schools, enjoy a rich tradition and continue, with an inclusive and holistic vision, to reach out to diverse educational needs of our time. Catholic schools, by their very nature, are not exclusive clubs. In this regard, many different, cultures, creeds and non-creeds coexist in a very progressive, inclusive and dynamic model. Part of the living Ethos of Catholic schools includes a faith programme, which permeates into every aspect of school curricular, not just the designated time allotted to more formal Religious Education. A positive sense of self, coupled with an image of God as a loving a compassionate friend, empowers young people, to grow in self-confidence and with a sense of justice and morality that will contribute to society greatly in their adult lives.
However, I believe that there must be a diversity of patronage in the primary school system. Article 42 of Bunreacht na hEireann guarantees the right of parents to be the primary educators of their children. This right is also recognised in international human rights law. It guarantees parents the right to choose the education system for their children, schools that align with their values. Therefore, it is equally sectarian to claim, as Paddy Lavelle has done, that there should only be multidenominational schools where the ethos is fundamentally secular or atheist. In effect, this is denying Christian parents the right to a pedagogy for their children based on Christian values.
I believe that a faith-based education can be highly valuable for young people.
Pope Leo recently issued an Apostolic Letter (Drawing New Maps of Hope), in which he articulated his views on Catholic education. Leo promotes a holistic vision of education which fully embraces the child, spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically. Forming the whole person means avoiding compartmentalisation. He adds that when faith is true, it is not an added subject but “a breath that oxygenates every other subject”. Viewed positively, this implies that the Catholic vision opposes what the pope calls a purely mercantilist approach that measures education in terms of practical utility…in other words teaching skills needed for the work force in later life. Education must also be “an apprenticeship in virtue”. The Christian pedagogy, he teaches, must also foster the interior life through silence, listening and prayer. Such a pedagogy challenges the teacher to engage with pupils in a human way using joy, love and empathy to guide them.
The ultimate goal of Catholic education is to help pupils discover meaning in life, to realise their dignity, and their responsibility towards others. The Catholic school is fundamentally committed to inclusivity but also to respecting the diversity of faith and culture in the school community. Realising this in practice is one of the greatest challenges today. Let’s hope there is a high level of engagement with the survey and that an educational system reflective of the rapid cultural change in Ireland will evolve.