At 15 March The Iona Institute and the European Christian Political Foundation hosted a conference in Dublin on the future of denominational schools in light of Irish Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s Forum on the same topic. 130 participants who work in the educational field attended this conference.

The three speakers were the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Richard Clarke; the Chair of the Catholic schools Partnership, Fr Michael Drumm; and Mr Henk Vos of VGS an organisation which supports boards and directors of Christian schools in the Netherlands. The chairman for the day was Dr John Murray of Mater Dei Institute.

Bishop Clarke told the conference that cuts to the education budget were disproportionately impacting Church of Ireland schools. He said that the cuts were targeting smaller schools, and that many Church of Ireland schools would end up being non-viable if the cuts were implemented.

Fr Drumm said that some of the preliminary recommendations of the Forum could have the effect of badly undermining the ethos and identity of denominational schools.

Meanwhile, Mr Vos explained how in the Netherlands two-thirds of primary schools are Church-run and State-funded and enjoy a high degree of autonomy. The result, he said, was quality schools and a high degree of parental satisfaction.

In the debate with the audience it became clear that the freedom of choice for the parents to choose a school fitting with their convictions is essential for a good involvement of parents and thus good quality of the education of the next generation. This freedom of choice is only present if there is real diversity and plurality in education which in turn is only possible if schools can work according to their ethos and identity. In a separate meeting in the Oireachtas, members of both Dail and Seanad later on underscribed the need for plurality in education in Ireland.

An extensive report of the meetings can be found at:

http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=2018 (complete report)

http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=2021 (report meeting in the Oireachtas)

http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=2031 (with audio report)

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