THE DELAY in rolling out new State-run community national schools has been criticised by a senior school management figure.
Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association, said this was a view held by his members and by Church leaders.
The church had acknowledged how the lack of real pluralism in patronage models is putting pressure on Catholic schools, which also enrol pupils from culturally diverse backgrounds, he said.
Mr Moriarty said the new State- run community school model – managed by the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee (VEC) – represents an ideal model. It can accommodate the provision of separate “religious education” to those of different faiths and no faith within the school curriculum, in accordance with parental wishes.
VECs are in a position to offer the State a new choice in the provision of primary school education in the newly diverse Ireland, he said. The capacity of VECs to deliver broad-ranging educational services and supports across the community has never been fully realised, he said, adding that the new model provides diversity under one roof rather than under different roofs.
There is now agreement that Ireland needs to diversify school patronage at primary level, rationally and incrementally, he said.
