Madam, - Niall Donoghue (December 27th) points to the egalitarian and successful Nordic education model as proof that the State is capable of better managing the Irish primary education system than its current voluntary managers. He cites the commendable achievements in mathematics, reading literacy, science and problem-solving, documented in the PISA study, as his primary evidence.
However, his argument does not stand up. The achievements he cites are not the result of more effective management but of more effective pedagogy and greater resources. The Finns quite properly place a far greater emphasis on experiential learning than we do, and this comes through in the results they achieve. I would be the first to acknowledge that we can learn a great deal from Finland, but nothing Mr Donoghue has written in any way proves that the State is capable of better managing the Irish primary education system than its current voluntary managers. I should also point out that school boards of management in Ireland have no role either in setting the curriculum or in instructing teachers how they should teach.
Seamus McKenna's letter of the same date hits to the nub of the argument: what is the purpose of a primary school education? Mr McKenna believes it is to teach the basics and produce good citizens. I disagree. There is more to life than being a good citizen. Education is concerned with the whole of a person's development, not simply their duty to the State. It is parents who have the primary responsibility for the education of their children, and it is the duty of the State to assist parents in that task.
If parents believe that religion is an important part of that education, then the State should support parents by enabling them to send their children to a faith-based school.
- Yours, etc,
SEAMUS MULCONRY, Ballinatone, Greenane, Co Wicklow.