Vol. 5 No. 19 – November 13th, 2005

Educate Together's National Forum Held in Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School, Saturday 12 November

While Debate Takes Place on Church and State, Educate Together Calls for Government Action to Provide Choice for all Irish Parents

Photo: A group of delegates and speakers at the National Forum

Vibrant Meeting
At a vibrant, well-attended meeting in the award-winning Educate Together school in Ranelagh, delegates from the 39 Educate Together schools met to discuss national policy. The meeting heard reports on the negotiating success of the movement, the development of its services to new schools, its training programmes, its fundraising policy and the start of an in-service training programme for the “Learn Together” ethical education programme. A central element of the meeting was an extensive debate on the lobbying programme recently launched by the organisation.

Commentary on Church and State
Towering over the discussions was the significance of recent commentary by politicians on the relationship between Church and State and the long-term consequences of the current overwhelming dominance of privately-owned and religiously controlled primary schools.

The fact that 98% of all National Schools in Ireland are legally obliged to uphold the ethos of a particular religious patron was seen as a major flaw in the structure of Irish education in the 21st century. Speakers drew attention to serious human rights issues being caused by the lack of choice for Irish families. The importance of Educate Together’s successful case to the United Nations on this issue was emphasised.

Partnership Approach
Speaker after speaker reacted strongly to recent comments by politicians, pointing out that although almost all commentators recognised the difficulties posed, the government was doing little to address the problem. Many delegates pointed out that all patron bodies recognised the difficulties and were working in partnership to address them. It is against the principles of all patron bodies to compel families to choose religious schools against their conscience. Educate Together is working with both Catholic ad Protestant patron bodies to provide a balanced choice for parents in as many areas as possible.

Escalating Demand for Places in Educate Together schools
The meeting heard detailed reports on the escalating demand for new Educate Together schools, the extensive waiting lists for places in such schools and the growing difficulties being faced by the organisation in meeting this demand.  Others pointed out the reality of the demographic changes in Ireland, the strong trend amongst new Irish parents to seek multi-denominational education, the need to welcome increasing numbers of immigrants with diverse religious backgrounds and chronic failure of the State to provide educational infrastructure in new housing estates.

Call for Government Responsibility and Action
In a hard-hitting address to the forum, Educate Together’s CEO Paul Rowe, outlined the serious damage due to be caused to the organisation by the continued failure of the Department of Education and Science to respond to recent funding proposals. Alerting the membership to the consequences of losing experienced staff in the new year and the length of time that it would take to train any replacements, he called for the organisation to redouble its efforts to persuade the government to act sensibly in this matter.

"There are great difficulties involved in changing the structure of Irish education. However, we must be clear that the State has the prime responsibility for the current situation and the State must act to resolve it. We are a movement that is based on supporting the human, educational and intellectual rights of families and children.

“We oppose any attempt to remove the right of Irish families to choose denominational education. The denial of human and Constitutional rights that continues to take place is caused by the failure of the State to provide any alternative to religious schools in 98% of areas in the country.

“If we are serious about human rights, we have to address this lack of choice and build a national network of schools operating with democratic, secular management that delivers multi-denominational education.

“This government has the solution here ready and waiting, committed to working in partnership with other providers and with a proven track record of accountability, transparency, quality of delivery and hard work.  It is utterly unacceptable that the Government is knowingly denying the funds that are necessary for Educate Together to meet the demands of Irish families in many areas of the country.”

The meeting concluded with a range of decisions taken to intensify lobbying and campaigning work in the run up to the Budget and in preparation for the next General Election. In particular, it decided to send a deputation from the National Forum to the Dail on Tuesday 15th November 6:00pm.

Educate Together is a secular, transparent and accountable management structure that acts as patron for multi-denominational schools. It is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. Educate Together schools operate with a legal obligation to provide equality of access and esteem to children, irrespective of their social, cultural or religious backgrounds. The schools provide a programme of ethical education which includes teaching children about the major faith systems of the world.  The schools facilitate any group of parents who so wish to to run religious instruction classes outside school hours.

Over the past 5 years, Educate Together has become the fastest growing sector in Irish education but struggles to meet escalating demand on a minimal State grant of €41,133. Other similar educational bodies such as Gaelscoileanna receive 10 times this figure.

Educate Together’s Proposals to Government

1. Realistic levels of Core Funding

There is no State sector of primary education in Ireland. Educate Together has been filling this gap for the past 30 years. In our rapidly diversifying society, it is urgent that a national network of inclusive, multi-denominational schools is established. Earlier this year the United Nations made a formal recommendation to the Irish State to support this work. Now is the time to act. If the government does not support Educate Together to work with parents on the ground, it will be faced with setting up an extensive (and much more costly) state support of supports for community led groups.
Educate Together is seeking annual core funding of €500,000.

2. Inequality in State Support for Primary School Patrons

All Patrons of National Schools must provide a specific religious or ethical curriculum which is taught for half an hour each school day. Educate Together receives no State Funding for this role yet has to fulfil all the legal requirements entailed.  In this regard there is a gross disparity in the manner in which the State supports other patron bodies. Protestant and Catholic patron bodies receive 100% funding for entire religious education departments in teacher training colleges. These train teachers to deliver the patron’s exclusive programmes that are not part of the National Curriculum and are not regulated by the State. The scale of such funding is estimated at around €10m per annum. In 2004 Educate Together published its “Learn Together” curriculum, accomplished entirely by voluntary effort.  Despite many applications, Educate Together still receives no support for its equivalent curriculum. It is difficult to see any statutory basis for such a disparity.

Educate Together is seeking €276,00 per annum for the development and delivery of its Ethical Education Curriculum.

This will amount to funding of approximately €200,000 per new school over six years.
This service provider model is in line with best practice, excellent value and must be acted upon in this budget round.