Development and Aims of Multi-denominational Education in Ireland

pressetThe Educate Together sector, consisting of 35 Schools nationwide, will be launching their latest publication What is an Educate Together School on the 20th April 2005.

The aim of the publication is to inform and communicate to parents, primary school teachers, the education community, politicians, and media what the Educate Together schools aim to achieve for a rapidly diversifying Irish society.

Where: The ARK Children’s Cultural Centre, Eustace Street, Dublin 2.

Who: Colm O’Cuanachain, Secretary General of Amnesty International, founding member of the first Educate Together Gaelscoil in Gort Álainn, Co. Cork, will officially launch the Booklet.

Time: 18:00pm.

Educate Together schools are working to create an educational space of equality and respect in which people of different religious and cultural backgrounds can learn and work together. They operate on a legal basis to provide equality of access and esteem to children irrespective of their social, cultural or religious backgrounds. This is an essential element in education in this day and age.

Educate Together has been highlighting the human rights violations inherant in State inactivity with regard to choice and the lack of multi-denominational school provision. Educate Together recently took its case to the United Nations under the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The UN found in its favour and issued a recommendation to the Irish State that it promote the development of multi-denominational schools in Ireland.

Over the past five years, Educate Together has become the fastest growing sector in Irish education. It currently operates 35 schools and has applications pending for 5 more due to open this September.

Locations include: Balbriggan, Co Dublin, Tyrrelstown, Co Dublin, Gorey, Co Wexford, Galway North/Claregalway and Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

ENDS