The publication of a formal statement of strategy is an unusual event in the world of education. The fact that Educate Together, the organisation of multi-denominational schools in Ireland, has spent the better part of three years drawing up such a statement should be of some interest to professionals, planners and participants in other fields of education.

Educate Together has gone through an exhaustive process of consultation and drafting of this statement. In a sector of 19 schools, about 80 committees have considered the document, many of them more than once. All the official partners in education - INTO, CPSMA, NPC (Primary), Church of Ireland Board of Education and Gaelscoileanna - have been consulted, as have the heads of the relevant sections of the Department of Education and Science.

In particular, the detailed demographic and statistical data acquired by the Commission for School Accommodation was an essential aid in the analysis phase of the process.

The results of this effort is a beautiful booklet, entirely originated within the Educate Together community, which is available from our office and will shortly be available to download from our website.

I can summarise some of the central results of this wide-ranging review and searching self-analysis as follows.

There is a sustained increasing demand for places in schools run under the Educate Together charter. This demand is being fuelled by the rapid social diversification which is emerging from within contemporary society and is also being enhanced by significant population inflows.

The majority of parents and teachers who wish to participate in Educate Together schools see this diversity as an irreversible fact of life. They consider that children will acquire a significant social and personal advantage in being taught in an environment which positively respects and supports differences in cultural and religious identity.

There is a small but significant body of opinion which sees this ethical framework as a preferred environment for the religious formation of children. They also discern great security in the legally enforceable nature of the ethos established in these schools and are attracted to the democratic nature of their management structure.

Also from these sources came a clear view that these principles should not be restricted to primary education.

The analysis of views outside the sector identified a clear opinion in government, political parties and elsewhere that it was highly desirable socially to increase the number of spaces in multi-denominational, multi-cultural schools. It was felt that this would complement and not harm the existing denominational systems.

It was felt that the failure of the State to provide guarantees of support of minority opinions in schools was a legal liability and had the potential to increase racist and xenophobic trends. It was also felt that this failure was incompatible with the needs and obligations of a modern, developing society. As a result, one of the central objectives in the statement is to radically increase the number of Educate Together schools and to work with public and private bodies to build a network. Funds are to be sought to employ a full-time development officer for this purpose.

The review process also identified the great wealth of unique experience within the Educate Together sector. The movement is now no longer a "project" or an experimental phenomenon. Over the past 25 years, it has become a mature, timetested and proven model of school management.

Reward above the norm

One of the most interesting parts of this experience is in the wealth of knowledge in building creative partnerships between the professional rle of the teacher and the voluntary activity of parents and then wrapping this relationship up in a democratic form of management.

Like all the best knowledge, it is based not only on much positive experience but also on mistakes and difficulties. The strategy statement identifies a great need for a consistent programme of training for volunteer patrons, managers and representatives - and suggests that this training could be made available to a wider audience. The other, more generally acknowledged strain of experience is in the delivery of a multi-ethical, multi-cultural school programme. Over two decades now, Educate Together schools have been tackling the complicated and delicate job of realising - both inside and outside the classroom - a whole-school programme which acknowledges and supports different ethical, religious, cultural and social backgrounds.

This has been developed in the Irish context. There is a great wealth of resource material, teaching practice and administrative policy in these areas. The strategy statement identifies, as a key aim, the concentration and codification of this experience.

This will include the building of a library of resource material and the employment of a full-time education officer. Educate Together hopes to be able to offer this post to a principal teacher on secondment in a step which will enhance career paths within the sector. We also hope to be able to consolidate this knowledge sufficiently to make it available to educators at home and abroad.

The statement of strategy formally identifies 10 objectives. Apart from those mentioned already, the list includes the establishment of a centre in Dublin with seminar, library and conference facilities; the establishment of a charitable foundation to channel independent funds into research and development; the building of a professional website; public relations and policy issues; and the building of regional structures to support local schools.

We have found the detailed review process which has brought about the publication of this statement a highly rewarding process. We are now looking forward to working with our partners in education to put it into practice.

Paul Rowe is chairperson of Educate Together, the organisation of multi-denominational schools (tel: (01) 626 3089; www.educatetogether.ie