In Ireland yesterday, the government's Department of Education and Skills
released a report of an advisory group calling for more diversity in primary schools in the country. According to the department's release:
The report notes that while 96% of education provision at primary level is denominational arising from the historical development of Irish primary education, there is clearly increased demand for new forms of multi-denominational and non-denominational schooling, as well as increased demand for Irish language schooling.
Minister Quinn said "Parental choice should be our main concern. Over recent decades, Irish society has been undergoing major political, social, economic, cultural, demographic and educational change. Primary school provision needs to reflect this changed society and provide for increased diversity."
Links to the full report and other related primary source material are available from the Department's
website. According to yesterday's
Irish Times, a key recommendation in the report is the elimination of Rule 68 of the Rules for National Schools that calls religious instruction the most important part of the school's curriculum.
[Thanks to Alliance Alert for the lead.]
