The Report of the Board of Education was presented to General Synod in Dún Laoghaire this morning (Friday May 13). Among the items highlighted in the report were that the Board of Education in Northern Ireland drafted a paper on principles of equality in education and provided training to clergy on adult safeguarding.  In the Republic, the report said that the Board’s service in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, to open the new academic year, was attended by over 500 students.  The Children’s Ministry Network’s work to develop proactively and increase its capacity to provide resources and training in 2016 was highlighted.

Proposing the report, Miss Frances Boyd started by welcoming Dr Peter Hamill as the Board of Education in Northern Ireland’s new secretary succeeding Canon Ian Ellis.

She said that one of the most significant developments in Northern Ireland during 2015 was the introduction of the Shared Education Bill in November. She explained: “The term shared education is a relatively new one and perhaps work still needs to be done in defining it. The Board in making its submission to the Northern Ireland Assembly committee through the Transferors’ Representative Council in November chose to define it as ‘two or more schools or other educational institutions from different sectors working in collaboration with the aim of delivering educational benefits to learners, promoting the efficient and effective use of resources and promoting equality of opportunity, good relations, equality of identity, respect for diversity and community cohesion.’” Miss Boyd said the Board welcomed the Shared Education Bill.

She then turned to the Jointly Managed Faith Schools document published by the Department of Education in April last year which outlines the conditions under which a Catholic maintained school may amalgamate with a controlled school to form a new faith school with the Christian faith at its heart. Miss Boyd said the Board looked forward to such a school coming to fruition in the near future and is engaged with schools interested in pursuing this model.

She outlined the seven key principles which must underpin the Church’s approach to education as identified by the Board of Education (NI) during the year. These include: equality of regard, equality of provision, fair allocation of resources, quality teaching, quality of leadership in schools, equality of opportunity and cooperation and progression.

Miss Boyd also outlined the Board’s aim to develop support for children’s ministry at parish level and their review of Safeguarding Trust. She said there was great concern about the impact of technology on young people and the board had developed a new e–policy dealing with technology.

Seconding the report, Canon Niall Sloane, focused on Religious Education in primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. He said that the current RE curriculum was the ‘Follow Me’ programme which was provided on behalf of the patrons. But he said that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment had proposed a new curriculum in the area of religious education.

“This is very significant development as it marks the first time that that the Irish State has sought to have its own religious education curriculum taught in schools. The content of the proposed NCCA curriculum is problematic because it approaches faith and religious belief and practice from a detached, objectified perspective and expects the teacher to adopt that approach in the delivery of the curriculum. Clearly this differs from an experiential approach and would appear to be at odds with the expression of an ethos that envisages the school community living the Christian life in a full and meaningful way,” Canon Sloane stated and urged people to brief themselves on the issue.

He also highlighted developments on vetting and the commencement of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable) Persons Act on 29 April 2016 which placed Garda vetting on a statutory footing. “Child protection is taken very seriously within the Church and we welcome and congratulate the State authorities on this development,” Canon Sloane said. He paid tribute to the work of Mrs Renée English, child protection officer in the Republic, who is retiring this year.

Looking to the future of the Church, Canon Sloane highlighted children’s ministry and spoke of the discussions which began during the year aimed at putting in place a long term sustainable plan for children’s ministry rooted firmly within central church.

Points raised during the debate on the Northern Irish section of the report include:

• Academic selection was raised and it was stated that the parents of 15,000 children put their children forward for academic selection. It was suggested that there was no policy on academic selection and the board in Northern Ireland is looking to clarify the issues surrounding academic selection and justice in education.
• Children are made in the image of God and deserve dignity. Education is one of the ways in which children can be given dignity. £11 billion pounds was spent on ice cream last year but only £6 billion was spent on education 86 percent of the world’s children.
• The benefits of Shared Education were highlighted.

Points raised during the debate on the Republic of Ireland section of the report include:

• The work of the Board of Education and the Follow Me programme was commended.
• The importance of working relationships with the Department of Education was stressed and tribute was paid to the Minister and Department of Education for their support.
• The commemoration in schools of 1916 and the Flags for Schools initiative was commended for the work and preparation in visiting every school in the Republic of Ireland.
• The work by the Board of Education was commended.
• Small schools and the pressure they face was raised.
• Transport to small schools was discussed.
• The work of CITI and moves by CICE to DCU was discussed.
• The work of outgoing Boards of Management of schools was praised and training for new boards was discussed.
• The developments at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Music School and Grammar School and within the cathedral were commended.
• The Gender Recognition Action in Schools was welcomed.
• The need to educate children, and members of Synod, about waste was stressed.
• Tribute was paid to Mrs English.
• The matter of safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable adults was raised. The child protection protocols are needed but children are being distanced from the normal pastoral interaction leading children to presume that any adult is a predator. They are being deprived of any sense of normal interaction between generations. Extending the protocols to the vulnerable adults would present even greater difficulties.
• The work of the Church of Ireland Primary School Management Association was commended.

The report was received by Synod.