THURSDAY'S NEWS

Education debate highlights concerns over teacher shortages, school buildings and curricular review
(from Elaine Whitehouse, Communications Dept, RCB)

According to usual practice at the General Synod, the reports of the General Synod Board of Education and the Secondary Education Committee (SEC) were considered together, with separate debates on education in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Rt Rev Ken Clarke, Bishop of Kilmore, proposed the report of the Board, telling Synod that “until we clearly say that teaching is an esteemed, valued and crucial profession, schools at both levels will face a shortage of qualified teachers who are supportive of the ethos of our schools.” The Rev Doris Clements agreed, speaking of the difficulty of filling vacancies in schools in the Diocese of Tuam, and exhorted the Board to “do all in its power to have the intake into our College increased”.

Bishop Clarke gave voice to concerns about the school building programme and urged the Synod to “say clearly that no child should have to learn or teacher work in premises which are unhealthy and unsafe.” Mrs Faith Bantry-White from the Diocese of Cork applauded his remarks, speaking as a teacher who had sometimes “had to work in staff rooms and corridors”.

Bishop Clarke’s concern that Leaving Certificate Religious Education had not yet been made available was echoed by the Most Rev Richard Clarke, Bishop of Meath and Kildare, who was concerned that RE at second level should not become the “Cinderella subject”. If ‘ethos’ was going to mean anything, he said, it had to mean “religious education taught well and given a place of honour at the centre of our schools”.

Top of Page

The subject of education in Northern Ireland was addressed by Mr Wilfred Young, a retired principal, who opened his seconding speech by inviting Synod to acknowledge the role of teachers in Northern Ireland as “oases of stability over thirty years of turbulence”.

Mr Young drew particular attention to the impact of equality legislation in Northern Ireland and was concerned at the possible removal of an exemption in respect of the employment of teachers.

He also told Synod that the Board thoroughly endorsed the measured response from the Transferor Representatives’ Council (TRC) to the Post-Primary Review. The suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly had added to confusion on this front but Mr Young applauded the recent establishment of a group of educational representatives, including members of the TRC, which was due to produce a report later in the year.

Curricular review, said Mr Young, always brought the need for managerial and organisational change coupled with the need for adequate resourcing, and the ongoing review of the Common Core curriculum in Religious Education would be a matter for much debate.

Mr Young closed by paying tribute to the excellent work of the Secretary to the Board of Education (NI), the Rev Ian Ellis, in his first full year of office. Mr Young’s particular thanks to Mr Ellis for his provision for the implementation of Safeguarding Trust were heartily endorsed by the Rev Paul Whittaker and Mr Ivan Davison of the Diocese of Armagh.

Top of Page