PARENTS should "start shouting" to put pressure on politicians not to water down the Education Bill and give more power back to church linked school patrons, the co ordinator of the National Parents Council Primary has said.
Ms Fionnuala Kilfeather told the organisation's annual conference in Kilkenny that she was "disturbed to hear reports that some patrons and some political parties have been seeking to weaken the responsibilities of the boards of management and to give more power and control to the patrons".
She urged the Minister for Education to "push ahead" with her "democratic reforms". In a clear reference to the churches, she warned that no matter who owned school property, "the education that takes place in schools is not owned by any one group. It belongs to us, the citizens of Ireland".
Partnership in education was lagging behind other aspects of life in Ireland, she said. What was needed were education reforms that empowered parents and
Ms Kilfeather said parents had been "deeply concerned" at suggestions by teacher unions and others that the Education Bill's proposed appeal procedure would lead to "floods of vexatious and frivolous appeals from parents and young people".
"Let's be straight about this. At present the balance of rights is weighted in favour of boards and teachers and against children.
"We are looking here at a fundamental civil right, a right to a fair and independent tribunal, a right to a fair hearing and a fair and timely decision on something that substantially interferes with our children's education.
"The appeals procedure in the Bill is fair - it answers the needs of parents and students. We say to the Minister `Don't weaken it.'"
Responding to criticism of the Bill's giving 16 year olds the right to appeal, Mr Kilfeather said it was essential that young people "gradually acquire responsibility for themselves and their actions so that they can, when they reach the age of 18, take a full part in a participative democracy and exercise their full rights and responsibilities".
Ms Kilfeather also criticised the "campaign of misinformation"
about the Relationships and Sexuality Education programme. "Sometimes it seems that there is more misinformation available than real information - for example about an explicit video for four year olds that doesn't exist."
NPC-P coordinator also welcomed the Department of Education's outline proposals for Whole School Inspection, which "when implemented will have significant and positive impact on the quality of education for our children".
The conference called on the Department of Education to increase capitation funding for minority-religion schools to reduce the financial burden on parents.
Proposing the motion, Ms Mary Sloan from Dublin said the funding problems faced by such schools were acute and in many cases their long-term survival was called into question.
The motion was passed by 93 votes to 79.