Prospects for a new Educate Together school in Donegal

23rd September, 2005

Paul Rowe, CEO is available for interview

Educate Together are delighted to announce local interest in setting up an Educate Together school in Donegal.  Currently there are 35 Educate Together schools nationwide with a consistent growing demand.

Educate Together schools have a distinct ethos and are set up and developed by groups of parents in a local area who wish to send their children to a national school that is founded on a number of core principles; multi-denominational education, co-education, Child centred in their approach to education and democratically run with active participation of parents in the daily life of the school. The curriculum followed in Educate Together schools adheres directly to the department of Education and Science curriculum.

The growing demand can be credited to factors in modern Irish life, namely the rapid diversification of society, economic growth, increasing population, and improved communications. It is also due to the increasing demand of parents to participate as partners in the educational process and a wish that their children should grow up at ease with social, religious and cultural difference.  Educate Together acts as patron of new schools and represents all its members in negotiations with the Department of Education and Science and other national organisations. Currently Educate Together is the fastest growing sector in primary education in Ireland.

Educate Together Schools run according to the principle that;

"all children having equal rights of access to the school, and
 children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds are equally respected"

ENDS