Workers’ Party says inclusion of school-day faith formation in nominally multi-denominational schools is evidence of the need for a state-run, secular education system
Cllr. Éilis Ryan
Reacting to comments made by Minister for Education Richard Bruton that he favoured the expansion of ‘Community National Schools,’ Workers’ Party Cllr. Éilis Ryan (Dublin North Inner City) said,
“It is noteworthy that to date, just two Catholic schools have transferred school buildings to different patrons. While the government uses the rhetoric of religious inclusion, in reality it has continued to facilitate the dominance of one religion within our education system.”
Minister Bruton stated his preference for ‘Community National Schools,’ (CNSs), whose approach separates pupils for Catholic faith formation classes during the school day, because he believes the Catholic Church would be more likely to divest under the model.
Cllr. Ryan said:
“The Catholic bishops have made clear that they will only agree to divest to patrons who commit to continuing Catholic religious instruction as part of the school day. Meanwhile, the Department of Education has made clear that divestment must meet the requirements of both the Department and the Church.”
“The Minister’s preference belies the government’s unwillingness to challenge the Catholic church’s dominance within the primary school system. If anything, facilitating the segregated, Catholic faith formation within so-called ‘multi-denominational schools’ further embeds the Catholic church within our public schools.”
“Only a universal, public, secular education system can deliver truly integrated education, and prevent segregation along both economic and religious grounds.”