Schools teach relevance of religion, as relevance of religion declines
A new specification for religious education in Irish schools aims to teach all children about the relevance of religion to their lives, just as the number of couples choosing a religious marriage is consistently decreasing year on year. Last September, a new specification for NCCA Religious Education was introduced in ...
A Secular State Protects A Pluralist Society – Part 4 of 5 – Education
In July 2019 Atheist Ireland took part in a meeting of the Dialogue Process between the Government, Churches, and Non-Confessional Organisations in Ireland. This page is part 4 of Atheist Ireland's policy document submitted to the Irish Government as part of this process. You can read the other sections of this ...
Submission to NCCA consultation on Junior Cycle Religious Education
This is a joint submission made to the NCCA consultation process on Junior Cycle Religious Education from: Michael Nugent and Jane Donnelly, Atheist Ireland Imam Ibrahim Noonan, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Ireland Pastor Nick Park, Executive Director, Evangelical Alliance of Ireland The three groups are pictured above with Nils Muižnieks, ...
Catholic schools will not objectively teach new Religions, Beliefs and Ethics course
The Department of Education is planning a new primary school course of Education about Religions, Beliefs and Ethics. While this sounds good in theory, it will not be delivered objectively in practice. This is because the Irish State cedes control of the ethos of schools to private Patrons, 90% of whom are ...
Atheist Ireland report to UN for Universal Periodic Review of Ireland
Atheist Ireland has submitted the following report for the next United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Ireland's human rights record. We will also be attending the review, to lobby the Council members about religious discrimination against atheists and minority faith members in Ireland. As well as this individual report from Atheist ...
Atheist Ireland meets NCCA about exemption from ERB and Ethics course for Primary Schools
This week Jane Donnelly and Michael Nugent met with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to discuss our concerns about the proposed Education about Religions and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics course for Primary Schools in Ireland. The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism recommended that this new course be ...
Submission from Atheist Ireland on Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013
Atheist Ireland today made the following submission on the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013. Contents 1 Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Atheist Ireland Conclusions 4 Atheist Ireland Recommendations 5 Head 3 - Requirement that an Admission Policy states that the School will not Discriminate ...
How to let the Minister for Education know your views on inclusive primary schools
Atheist Ireland is suggesting the following advice for parents and other citizens who are making a submission to the Department of Education’s consultation on promoting greater inclusiveness in primary schools. The Minister for Education is seeking submissions from the public on the following questions. The views expressed will help shape Government ...
Atheist Ireland response to the interim report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism
Ensuring Effective Remedies for an Objective, Critical and Pluralistic Secular Education This is the response from Atheist Ireland to the interim report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, submitted on 1 December 2011. The Forum is to send its final report to the Minister for Education by the end ...
Teach, Don’t Preach: Secular Education is a Human Right
Atheist Ireland is looking for your feedback on this draft document, in which our Education Officer Jane Donnelly argues that secular education is a human right, and that the Irish Government denies that right to its citizens. We will be sending the final version of this document later this month ...