Dear Editor,
The recently proposed primary-school curriculum offers merely minor adjustments rather than a comprehensive overhaul of the education system in Ireland, as evidenced in the news on February 6th regarding the earlier implementation of sex education. This is yet another missed chance to tackle the ubiquitous religious patronage in our educational establishments.
Despite the slight decrease in the weekly duration dedicated to so-called “denominational education” or religious preaching, effectively 30 minutes, it’s symbolic at best. It’s probable that this will be counter balanced with extra “flexible time”, provided every month that schools can utilise at their discretion. A meagre reduction of six minutes per day in religious teaching will barely affect the everyday reality of children who have been “opted-out”. These students will still be forced to idle away time at the rear of classrooms and religious sites.
The reforms proposed to sex and relationship education also raise questions considering the autonomy patrons hold to administer this topic in harmony with their ethos. It is inevitable that dilemmas will persist.
Classrooms are not the place for faith education, religious service, or sacramental preparation. Such practices lead to discrimination and exclusion for both students and teaching staff. Sadly, this plainly evident fact seems to have slipped past the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), who made the decision to subject future Irish students and teachers to an educational structure that ignores their fundamental and constitutional rights.
Mere superficial attempts to ensure inclusivity within our schools are inadequate. Instead, we must confront Church authority’s stronghold on our education system head on. If not, a rapidly increasing demographic of our citizens will continue to bear the brunt of this issue.
Yours sincerely,
DAVID GRAHAM,
Public Relations Officer,
Education Equality,
Malahide,
County Dublin.