Vol. 568 No. 1
95 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to a call made by the National Parents Council primary for a debate on the teaching of religion in schools; his plans to initiate such a debate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15752/03]
The National Parents Council primary has not, in fact, formally called for a debate on the teaching of religion in schools. I have no plans to initiate such a debate at present.
I am, however, aware that a number of issues relating to religious education are of real concern to parents. The increasingly multicultural nature of the schoolgoing population; the growing diversity of beliefs, values and lifestyles in Irish society; the desire of parents to arrange for their children's education in a school whose religious ethos coincides with their own religious beliefs; the growing numbers of children attending denominational schools who are of differing faiths or of none; and the demand for increased choice have all given rise to a focus on this issue.
Any consideration of this concern must take account of recent legislation and curriculum changes. These have acknowledged the rights of the individual with regard to values and beliefs and made provision for the wide range that now exists in Irish society. Under section 30 of the Education Act 1998, no student can be required to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent of the student. The Act also requires that, in prescribing curricula for recognised schools, the Minister must take due account of the characteristic spirit of a school or type of school. Section 15 of the Act also requires boards of management of schools to uphold and be accountable to the patron for upholding the characteristic spirit of the school including the moral, religious, social, educational and spiritual values which inform the ethos of the school.
At primary level, my Department recognises the rights of the different church authorities to design curricula in religious education and to supervise their teaching and implementation. This right is enshrined in the Education Act 1998. Consequently, although religious education is part of the curriculum for primary schools and schools are obliged to allocate 30 minutes per day for religious instruction, the content of the religion programme is determined by the patron of the school. The revised curriculum for primary schools espouses the importance of tolerance towards the practice, culture and lifestyle of a range of religious convictions and states explicitly that the beliefs and sensibilities of every child are to be respected.
Additional information.The legislation has been enacted, the new curriculum is being implemented and primary school authorities are taking their responsibilities in this regard seriously. This should alleviate some of the concerns of parents. Looking to the future, my Department has established the new schools advisory committee whose task is to scrutinise applications for new schools and to advise on future provision. Part of its remit is to ensure diversity of provision and, clearly, the issues outlined above are central to its work.
At second level, a new syllabus for religious education was introduced on a phased basis in September 2000. This syllabus is concerned with understanding religion as a phenomenon in the world and is designed to be studied by students of all religious faiths and of none. It will be examined for the first time in the junior certificate examination this year. For the students taking this course, a syllabus for religious education at leaving certificate, higher and ordinary levels, will be introduced this September for examination in 2005. Within three years, religious education will be an available option to all post-primary schools as an examination subject.
I read in that austere newspaper, The Irish Times, that the National Parents Council's primary section called for an examination of this issue. Therefore, I am not sure on what basis the Minister says it did not or whether the newspaper is wrong.
Does the Minister agree that this issue must be confronted sooner rather than later, given the changing nature of society and the rights of parents to have their children educated in a manner appropriate to their own religious ethos or not to be taught according to any specific religious ethos? Does he further agree with the INTO's suggestion that a convention on interdenominational education should be set up to examine all these issues? The Minister is obviously aware of the growing demand for interdenominational education, particularly with the growing requests for Educate Together schools. Does he therefore agree that it is important this issue be addressed in an organised manner, perhaps through a convention or an examination of the issue, particularly in view of the situation which arose in the Minister's own constituency, where there was a real confrontation with regard to the rights of parents in regard to religious teaching in schools? I am interested to hear the Minister's response to this issue which is of growing concern for parents.
By way of clarification, the basis for my statement that the National Parents Council had not formally called for a debate on the teaching of religion was based on an assurance from the chief executive of the primary section of the organisation. No formal approach has been made by the National Parents Council to the Department in this regard. The Department has established a new schools advisory committee whose task is to scrutinise applications for new schools and advise on future provision, part of whose remit is to try to ensure a diversity of provision.
The concerns which have been expressed by parents who want to have a choice will be taken into account. If people choose to go to a school with a Catholic, Protestant, Muslim or any other ethos or no ethos, they have the opportunity to do so. The position generally regarding religious education at primary and secondary level is satisfactory. There has been one well-publicised incident which gave rise to some calls, but the issue itself was apparently centred on religion in the schools, whereas the essence of the problem was more to do with someone acting contrary to the wishes of the board of management. It was a separate issue.
I disagree that all parents have a choice because if one is located in a rural area, one does not have a selection of schools from which to choose to send one's children. Does the Minister accept that now is the time to have a forum on this topic, whether or not it has been requested? Some people have been seeking one, although they may not have done so formally.
I am in favour of people being taught their own religion within the school system. Other people hold different views from mine but, rather than having further confrontation, would it not be better to have a forum at this stage to discuss the issues, particularly for the benefit of those who do not live in areas where choice is available?
I have no objection to anyone setting up a forum on this issue, but I have no intention of doing so. If others feel it is necessary, they should feel free to do so.
Deputy Enright raised the issue I wished to, which relates to parents who do not have a choice. If they live in the city and have access to transport, they have that choice. However, there is a growing number of parents who have not been able to access schools which share the same ethos, particularly outside cities and towns. Is the Minister satisfied that those parents have appropriate opportunities for their children with regard to not having to sit in on a religious class which is not in accordance with their own beliefs?
Adequate provision is made for that. I accept that we cannot have a series of non-denominational, multi-denominational and single denominational schools at every crossroads in the country. There are already some 3,500 primary schools in place and the State has an obligation to provide educational facilities, but it does not have a constitutional obligation to provide schools of a particular ethos everywhere they are demanded. It is worthy of note that, in recent years, most of the schools that have been provided have been non-denominational schools, generally gaelscoileanna and Educate Together schools.
