NCCRI Supports Council of Europe Body Call for More Non-denominational and Multi-faith Schools in Ireland
The NCCRI welcomes the Council of Europe body report on racism in Ireland and which in particular highlights the recommendation on the need for more non-denominational and multi-faith schools to be provided in Ireland to reflect our growing multicultural society.
The Third Report on Ireland by the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance, ECRI has been published today on the ECRI website. ECRI is a Council of Europe Body that issues periodic country reports on individual countries.
The NCCRI further highlights the ECRI conclusion that the National Action Plan Against Racism ‘Planning for Diversity’ 2005-2008 is ‘a commendable step in the fight against racism’. (The NCCRI is closely involved the development and implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism).
Recommendation 87 of the ECRI Report States; ‘ECRI urges the Irish authorities to promote the establishment of multi-denominational or non denominational schools and adopt the necessary legislation to that end.’
Philip Watt, Director of the NCCRI stated:
‘The greater provision of multi-denominational or non denominational primary schools in Ireland will provide greater choice for where parents can send their children to be educated and will help ensure that children from different religious backgrounds can be educated together. This is particularly important in areas where existing schools have indicated that they may not be able to accommodate all the children from minority religious backgrounds in their catchment area in future.’
The NCCRI recognises that for many parents in Ireland, including many from migrant backgrounds, the preference/reality at primary level will be to continue to send their children to either a primary school with either a Catholic or Protestant ethos (or to one of the two Muslim and one Jewish primary schools in Ireland). This preference should continue to be supported. However, as well as providing greater choice in relation to the ethos of schools, more supports must also be given to teachers in all schools to equip them with the skills to teach in the intercultural classroom.
There has also been a significant increase in religious diversity in recent years. Between 2002 and 2006 the Orthodox Christian community in Ireland doubled from 10,400 to 20,800. The Muslim community grew by 70% over the same period from 19,100 to 32,500 people. 92% of Irish nationals in Ireland are Roman Catholic, compared with 51% of non-Irish nationals.
The NCCRI calls on the incoming Government to look at this issue as a matter of urgency because the planning time needed for new schools is usually several years. The failure to address this issue as a priority may lead to more children finding it difficult to access a place in a primary school, in particular those from a minority religious background.
The NCCRI further calls on the incoming Government to make an early commitment to continue the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism.
For Further information contact Philip Watt, Director, NCCRI:
0876370557
018588001
018588000
