Father Tom Deenihan, the General Secretary of CPSMA, said this afternoon that CPSMA would participate fully in the NCCA consultation in relation to Education about religions and beliefs and Ethics. Father Deenihan said that it was important to note that this was the beginning of a consultation process and that no recommendations had yet been made. There was concern about some commentary in relation to this launch, he said. In this context it was important to stress the NCCA documentation which said that ERB and Ethics is separate to the religious education programme and ‘is in no sense intended to replace the Patron’s programme or faith formation’.
It has been consistently shown that Catholic schools throughout the country are amongst the most inclusive in terms of not just religion but also nationality, ethnic and social background and academic ability. The NCCA documentation acknowledges that children attending denominational schools ‘encounter religions, beliefs and ethical considerations in their daily lives’. That is, Fr. Deenihan said, as it should be and that Catholic primary schools would participate fully in this process. He also encouraged school Boards of Managements to contribute to this process.
- The CPSMA is a recognised school management association and represents all the boards of management of the over 2,900 Catholic primary schools in the Republic of Ireland.
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444
