Most Irish second level schools are Catholic or Interdenominational

The Department of Education recently released new figures on second level schools. Media reports last week incorrectly reported that most students are educated in multi-denominational schools. In fact:

  • The vast majority of students (74%) are educated in denominational or interdenominational schools. The High Court has referred to inter-denominational schools as denominational.
  • The balance of students (26%) are educated in multi-denominational schools. A WRC case has found that these colleges can have a Christian ethos if that is part of their tradition. Of the 211 multi-denominational schools, only 21 are under the patronage of Educate Together.
  • There are no non-denominational schools with a secular ethos. No schools deliver education in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner. The vast majority discriminate on the grounds of religion.

Here are the figures, followed by details of the ethos of the various types of ETB schools and colleges.

ETB Community Schools and ETB designated Community Colleges

ETB Community Schools and ETB designated Community Colleges are listed in the Departments figures as interdenominational.

The High Court referred to Community and Comprehensive schools as denominational. (Campaign to Separate Church and State case 1996). Comprehensive schools are listed in the Departments figures as denominational.

The Supreme Court found that if parent sent their children to Community schools they can expect them to be influenced by the religious ethos of the school. These ETB Community Schools are managed by religious bodies under the Deeds of Trust for these schools. The state funds a Chaplain in the schools to assist parents with the religious formation of their children. These Chaplains are mainly Catholic.

In the figures released by the Department of Education most of the ETB designated Community Colleges are also listed as interdenominational. These are managed by the ETBs but with a religious representatives on the Board. They come under the Model Agreement. As far as we are aware they are all Catholic. The state also pays for a Catholic chaplain in the designated Community Colleges to assist catholic parents with the religious formation of their children.

These schools are not an alternative to denominational schools, they are just more of the same.

ETB non designated Community Colleges

The Department of Education figures show that 111,088 students are educated in multi-denominational schools. The vast majority of these are under the patronage of the ETBs and managed by them. Of the 211 multi-denominational schools, only 21 are under the patronage of Educate Together,

They are referred to as non designated Community Colleges. A WRC case a few years ago found that these colleges can have a Christian ethos if that is part of their tradition. Recent research also shows that many of these ETBs are Catholic in nature. They are certainly not secular in any way, as revealed in the research report “That’s how it works here – The place of religion in publicly managed second-level schools in Ireland”.

The vast majority of second level schools (this includes the ETB multi-denominational schools), teach religious education as a subject. If students exercise their right to not attend, no other subject is offered and they are left sitting in the religion class. They get less points in their Junior and Leaving Certificate for exercising a Constitutional right.

All second level schools are obliged under Section 15 of the Education Act 1998 to uphold the ethos of the Patron. Schools are not legally obliged to ensure that any education and teaching with regard to religion and beliefs is delivered in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner. This is a General Principal of the European Court of Human Rights.

ETB non-designated Community Colleges are not an alternative to denominational schools, they are just more of the same and they disrespect the philosophical convictions of students from atheist and secular backgrounds. They simply ignore our Constitutional and human rights.

All students at second level are educated in denominational, interdenominational or multi-denominational schools, on a take it or leave it basis. There are no non-denominational schools in Ireland with a secular ethos. None of the schools deliver education and teaching in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner and the vast majority of them discriminate on the grounds of religion.

The majority of students are not educated in multi-denominational schools, even if they were, these schools are not suitable for students from atheist and secular backgrounds because they discriminate on religious grounds and undermine our Constitutional and human rights.

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