Pupils and teachers of Monkstown Educate Together National School are celebrating the dawning of the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, newly confident that the school will see many new years to come, regardless of the calendar by which they are fixed. Recent announcements by the Minister for Education and Science, Micheal Martin, have eased their financial burden and they can now look for a permanent site, funded by the Department.
Previously parents faced the annual task of fund-raising £40,000 towards the rental of the premises and two portacabins in the grounds of Monkstown House. At present 127 pupils are enrolled, from junior enfants to fourth class, but principal Mary Stuart expects this to rise eventually to around 250, as the school's waiting list of 500 pupils stretches to 2003. She is keen to stress that the Department-funded school teaches the same curriculum as all national schools.
The only difference is that pupils are not instructed in any particular religion - nor is there a religious presence on the board of management, chaired by Dr Caro Condon. She became involved in the project after returning from Canada to discover that she couldn't find a place in any of the existing multi-denominational schools for her children.
"We have a religious education programme of our own," says Stuart. "The content is decided by a sub-committee comprised of parents and teachers. There is a strong emphasis that children should be educated in the major religions in Ireland, taking into account the growth in Islam.
"As part of the programme, fifth and sixth class children will visit the different places of worship. We're looking at Christianity in Ireland and both the causes of conflict and the process of resolving conflict."
The board of management of the school is happy to provide facilities after school for parents who wish to have their children instructed in a particular faith. This is availed of by the Catholic Church - Stuart is appreciative of the strong support the school gets from both the local rector and the parish priest.
A strong emphasis on art is evident from the eclectic decor of classrooms, with a particular emphasis on non-western art. The school tries to borrow artefacts from around the world to display to pupils. All four teachers adopt a very hands-on approach to the subject, explains the principal. Brightly painted rabbits clustering around a welcome poster greeting visitors inside the school door.
For its sporting activities, the school uses the adjacent Monkstown Pool where pupils take part in swimming classes and Dunedin Park is the venue for field games.
Stuart acknowledges that multi-denominational schools are perceived as elitist by some, but says that "parents who might not come from middle-class backgrounds see us as being approachable. Our enrolment policy is on a first-come-first-served basis."
Parents, particularly in South County Dublin, are becoming increasingly aware of the need to enrol children almost as soon as they are born. "We've had two reviews in the past two years and it's the fairest way we can come up with," she says.
While there is a voluntary contribution of £80 per child, Stuart stresses that this is completely voluntary. Some parents who do not give money, give time to the school. "Like many schools today, some of the pupils came from single family homes," she adds.
The school was founded after it became apparent from the waiting list of Dalkey Educate Together National School that another multi-denominational school was needed in the area. The Dalkey Educate Together National School, now in Glenageary, is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary.
At present there are 16 multi-denominational schools in the Republic, with over 3,000 pupils between them. Of these, eight are in the greater Dublin area and all are fully recognised and funded by the Department. Six schools currently in rented premises will benefit from the recent announcement by Minister Martin which will see the State providing the full cost of sites and 95 per cent of the capital cost of new buildings; the school's 5 per cent contribution is capped at £50,000.
In return the state will own both the site and building. In the case of renovations, the State will pay 90 per cent of the cost with a £25,000 ceiling on the cost to be borne by the school.
I N a further development for schools renting temporary accommodation, Martin announced that schools whose viability is assured and which have been granted permanent recognition will be grant aided at the rate of 95 per cent of any reasonable rent.
These developments will be of benefit to many schools but particularly to gaelscoileanna and multi-denominational schools. Paul Rowe, chairman of Educate Together, the umbrella group for multi-denominational schools, welcomes the announcement for having created "a fresh, new and even playing field for emerging primary schools."
