Debate over the place of religious education in the school system.
Primary school children of all religions and none are now at the centre of a unique experiment. They are being educated together in an interdenominational school. Under the new programme, children are divided into groups when it comes to teaching religion. Monotheists form one group while a second group is formed by multitheists and atheists. Bernie McHugh a teacher at Scoil Choilm explains how the system works. In the approach to Easter, the division between the groups broaden into Catholics, other Christians, Muslims, and Multi and Atheists. These groupings are the result of demands from the Catholic Church who insist that any new school must instruct Catholic children in the Catholic faith.
The aim is to instruct all children in the tenets of their individual faiths.
Education spokesperson for the Labour Party, Ruarí Quinn, says that the new state schools have been hijacked by Catholic bishops. The church has received support from the Fianna Fáil government in providing faith formation in schools. Ruarí Quinn would prefer to see classes that teach the history of religion. The then Minister for Education Mary Hanafin refutes this claim and says that no such commitment was given to the Catholic Church.
Catherine O'Brien was a member of a group established to advise on religious education in the new school model. She resigned from the position as she was unhappy with a system which that she believes will damage children. This approach introduces segregation and an awareness of religious difference which has no place in a classroom.
It should be handled by the faith community and the home.
The religious education programme for schools is being designed by leading Catholic author Dr Clare Maloney who has written the religious curriculum for Catholic primary schools. She argues that grouping of children on religious grounds is important to nurture their identity.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 April 2010. The reporter is Emma O'Kelly.
