School Enrolment Policies 23/1/08

INTO Press Release: Statement by John Carr, INTO General Secretary, on School Enrolment Policies

23 January 2008
 
The INTO said today that it would look at the enrolment proposals carefully.
 
In particular, the union said it would consider the background to the development, monitor the implementation of the enrolment policies in these schools and the effect on other primary schools in the area.
 
John Carr, General Secretary of the union, said “At face value this proposal appears a reasonable one.” He described it as an attempt by two schools to address a serious problem in their catchment area. “It should be seen as an attempt to meet community needs and has merit in that it is a voluntary agreement, worked out at local level. It is not an attempt to impose a national solution on all schools. Nevertheless it is one that could be examined and adapted, if necessary by other schools.”

“This should not be seen as a quota system but an attempt to ensure that school populations mirror the general community. The INTO has always asserted that every school has a duty to promote community cohesion and that this entails having reasonable school enrolment policies. The INTO has opposed segregation on the grounds of race or religion and believe that this proposal, if given the proper supports, could avoid such segregation.”

He said action by the Department of Education and Science was now required to ensure that the appeals process under the Education Act does not bring down this proposal.

Current legislative framework must not be part of the problem. It does have the potential to ensure that the multi-cultural challenge is more evenly distributed among schools.
 
He also said that the proposal was not entirely new, a similar arrangement having been in place in schools in Clare for many years.
 
Ends.