THE LAST things Irish society needs are social division and conflict associated with problems affecting local school provision, the chairman of the forum said.
In his opening address, Prof John Coolahan said the process of adjusting school patronage could involve the unlocking of allegiances, long-held loyalties, aspects of identity and personal engagement. People could have an emotional attachment to their local schools, which must be understood, he said.
He expressed confidence that social conflict could be avoided, but he exhorted those participating in the forum to consider not just a sectoral interest, but to reach out and seek accommodation with other legitimate interests.
It was crucial that unnecessary fears and apprehensions about the future of religion in schools were not fomented by any agency, including the media, he said.
He said the attempt to make greater provision for the rights of some citizens “does not mean that we trespass on the rights of others. There are likely to be adjustments and inconveniences for some citizens with the restructuring of school patronage, but their rights will not be threatened or abolished.”
Prof Coolahan said the 180-year-old Irish primary school system had served many generations of Irish people well.
“In the modern, more multicultural Ireland, the national schools have been successful in accommodating greater cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity among their pupil bodies. The tradition of general inclusivity in our primary schools needs to be guarded, and we need to be alert that changes do not lead to greater social stratification in our schools, or to a two-tier primary system.’’
While concerned to uphold their denominational character, most Catholic primary schools sought to be as inclusive as possible, he said.
Prof Coolahan stressed that Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn had not asked the advisory panel to design a new blueprint for the national education system.
“Rather, he asked us to examine the existing form of school patronage with a view to making it more generally acceptable to all citizens.
“We were not asked as to whether change in existing patronage should be introduced.”
The plan for change, he said, was generally accepted.
The forum, he said, would establish the demand for diversity of patronage; tease out the practicalities of managing the divesting of patronage; and examine how diversity could be accommodated where there was just one or two schools serving a community with a static population.
