A chara, – The recent statistics published in the article "We have allowed segregation to happen" (February 24th) underestimate the reality of ethnic school segregation in primary schools in certain areas of Dublin.
The data, taken from the School Annual Census, known as the October returns, are based on demographic information provided by principals to the Department of Education and Skills.
Questions arise about the validity of the data, as individual principals interpret the question of pupil nationality differently.
Some principals categorise all children born in Ireland (irrespective of the nationality of their parents) as Irish, while others document these children according to their parents’ country of origin.
In the Lucan situation, for example, only two of the five schools which have very high proportions of pupils backgrounds (over 80 per cent) from immigrant backgrounds, featured in the published list of “schools with over two thirds of pupils of a non-Irish background”. The true picture of segregation is more pronounced than is suggested by the article.
The five newest schools in Lucan have migrant populations of between 80 per cent and 95 per cent.
This has occurred as a result of the very unusual (by international standards) patronage system of governance which allows public schools to prioritise children for admission on religious or language-based (Gaeilge) criteria.
The use of “first come, first served” policies favoured by Educate Together and Community National Schools has led to waiting lists which can also militate against newcomer families. When established schools in an area are full, newcomer children enrol in new schools, leading to situations where schools for Irish children and schools for immigrant children co-exist side by side in local communities.
In spite of this new reality, there seems to be little appetite in official circles for the introduction of a state system of primary education, to which all children would have equality of access.
It appears that the proposed Education (Admission to Schools) Bill will tackle the issue of waiting lists, but the right of religious schools and Gaelscoileanna to prioritise children according to their faith or commitment to the Irish language will persist, increasing the likelihood of further segregation in future years.
The disadvantageous effects of large concentrations of ethnic minority pupils on educational achievement, and on newcomer pupils’ acquisition of the host language have been documented in international research as well as the damaging effects of segregation on integration and social cohesion. Unless urgent measures are taken, Irish schools will continue to sleepwalk into segregation, a process that may be impossible to reverse. – Yours, etc,
COLETTE KAVANAGH,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.