The Minister for Education has set down preliminary steps for removing the so-called ‘baptism barrier’ for admission to Irish schools.
Richard Bruton outlined the Government’s plans to remove religion as a criteria in school admissions policy yesterday, before the Oireachtas Committee.
The religious stance has typically affected non-Catholic children trying to enter Catholic schools, and facing problems due to the fact that they have not been baptised.
Under the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill, Irish schools which are not oversubscribed will have to accept all applicants, regardless of their religion.
There are some exceptions, however. Firstly, the new legislation will not apply to minority religion schools; and, secondly, a school will not have to subscribe to the new rules if this would mean it would be impossible for that school to maintain their ethos.
Explaining the new provisions, Minister Bruton said: “Under the bill being debated today, schools which are not oversubscribed will have to accept all applicants.
“This means that religion will not be used in admissions to 80 per cent of schools, and in fact this is already the practice in most schools. It is in the 20 per cent other schools that this issue now needs to be addressed.
“I am seeking to be fair to all parents, while recognising the right of all schools to have their distinctive ethos.”
Minister Bruton added that he is hoping to ‘meet the wishes of non-denominational parents…without unfairly infringing on the rights of other children’.
The announcement has been met with largely positive reactions, but Educate Together – which represents equality-based education in Ireland – has called for more action.
Educate Together welcomes Minister Bruton’s announcement that the ‘baptism-barrier' is to be discontinued https://t.co/EjCI19acnN
— Educate Together (@EducateTogether) June 28, 2017
Simply eliminating the ‘baptism-barrier' will not resolve the fundamental structural issue in Irish education https://t.co/EjCI19acnN
— Educate Together (@EducateTogether) June 28, 2017
Schools should treat children with equal respect both at school gates &in the classroom, regardless of religion https://t.co/EjCI19acnN
— Educate Together (@EducateTogether) June 28, 2017
In a statement, the organisation said that while it ‘welcomes Minister Bruton’s announcement’, it believes that this ‘will not resolve the fundamental structural issue in Irish education’.
Educate Together CEO Paul Rowe said: ”Of course every child should be able to attend their local school – but, crucially, their local school should also treat all children with equal respect, both at the school gates and in the classroom, regardless of religious, social or cultural background.
“It is Educate Together’s position that simply eliminating the exemption used by religious-run schools to discriminate against non-baptised children in their enrolment policies will not resolve the fundamental structural issue in Irish education.”
What are your thoughts, mums? Let us know!
