A Dublin school has said it will review aspects of its ethos statement following a message circulated to parents noting all pupils are required to attend religious ceremonies.
The instruction was issued via the Aladdin messaging app by St Andrew’s National School in Lucan, Co Dublin.
Education Equality, an organisation campaigning for “equality” in the provision of education regardless of a pupil’s religion, said the message breached children’s constitutional rights.
An excerpt from the school’s broader ethos statement, the message said pupils were required to participate in all subject areas and attend all school religious ceremonies.
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“As part of the culture of this school children are informed about Santa Claus, Halloween and the expectation that surrounds this. We do not permit any other view within school.”
St Andrew’s is under Church of Ireland patronage.
In a statement, Robert Grier, chair of the board of management, said the school noted the concerns raised.
“The message in question contains a quotation from the school’s ethos statement. The ethos statement will be reviewed in full by the board of management of the school at its next board meeting. We have no further comment to make at this time.”
The school’s ethos statement also notes that it is part of the local church community with strong links to the parish church in Lucan village.
“We teach the primary curriculum including religious education. The essentials of the Christian faith are explored and pupils are encouraged to think independently and develop a personal faith by which they may later live,” it says.
However, Education Equality took issue with the Aladdin circular on Monday, saying children have a constitutional right to attend publicly funded schools without attending religious instruction.
“Children also have the right not to be forced to attend religious ceremonies against their will, in line with their human right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,” its spokesman David Graham said.
Education Equality has called on Government to compel schools to confine religious instruction and worship to a period at the end of the school day.
The Department of Education confirmed that under law a school cannot require a student to attend instruction in any subject when contrary to the conscience of the parent or guardian, or to a student of adult age.
“The manner in which any school ensures that the right to opt out of religion instruction classes is upheld, is a matter for the school concerned,” it said in a statement.
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