Tá rogha ar an rud is tábhachtaí san Athchumrú
Tá baol ann go dteipfeadh ar an bpróiseas má bhíonn teorainn le rogha na dtuismitheoirí maidir le roghanna pátrúnachta
Fáiltíonn An Foras Pátrúnachta, an pátrún is mó ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge, roimh fhógra an Aire Foley maidir leis an bPróiseas Athchumraithe Scoileanna don Éagsúlacht. Tugann an comhaontú seo le Comhairle Chomhdháil Easpag na hÉireann um Oideachas an deis do scoileanna pátrúnacht a aistriú agus éiteas a athrú go múnla ilchreidmheach. Is céim dhearfach é an comhaontú i dtreo soláthar méadaithe scoileanna ilchreidmheacha agus roghanna breise do thuismitheoirí agus do phobail scoile.
Tugann an próiseas deis freisin do ghaelscoileanna reatha aistriú go dtí an t-aon phátrún lán-Ghaeilge, An Foras Pátrúnachta. Agus oideachas ilchreidmheach curtha ar fáil ag an bhForas ó osclaíodh ár gcéad scoil i 1993, bhí an eagraíocht gníomhach sa phróiseas athchumraithe le roinnt blianta anuas. Tríd an bpróiseas seo, tá nósanna imeachta forbartha againn do scoileanna agus mar thoradh orthu tá an scoil is mó (320 dalta) atá tar éis dífheistiú go dtí seo anois faoin bhForas.
Ag tógáil ar an rath seo, táimid ag dul i gcomhairle faoi láthair lenár scoileanna sainchreidmheacha féin agus déanfaidh pobal na scoile cinneadh ar cé acu ar mhaith nó nár mhaith leo athchumrú a dhéanamh go múnla ilchreidmheach. Cuireann an próiseas seo, arna éascú ag ár nOifigeach um Athchumrú Scoileanna, ar chumas pobail scoile machnamh a dhéanamh ar an mbealach is fearr chun freastal ar a gcuid riachtanas. Creidimid go bhfuil rogha, comhairliúchán agus faisnéis chuimsitheach ríthábhachtach le go n-éireoidh le haon aistriú.
Tá sé de dhualgas go mbeidh trédhearcacht agus eolas ar gach rogha pátrúnachta ann sna próisis atá le teacht. Le 15 bliana anuas, nuair a tugadh an rogha dóibh, roghnaigh gach uile pobal a roghnaigh gaelscoil dá mbunscoil nua, An Foras Pátrúnachta mar phátrún acu. Níor cheart neamhaird a dhéanamh ar éascú rogha na dtuismitheoirí sa phróiseas seo. Má bhíonn teorainn eolais do phobail scoile maidir le roghanna pátrúnachta, tá gach seans ann go mbeidh teip i ndán don phróiseas.
Dúirt Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard-Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta: “Is deis iontach é seo do phobail ionchuimsitheach a chur chun cinn agus freastal a dhéanamh ar riachtanais éagsúla na leanaí agus a dtuismitheoirí. Cuireann sé deis ar fáil go mbeadh oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ilchreidmheach á chur ar fáil ag pátrún lán-Ghaeilge. Go simplí, pátrún lán-Ghaeilge do scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge.”
CRÍOCH
Teagmháil:
- Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard-Rúnaí
- 086-1738044
- caoimhin@foras.ie
- Sorcha Ní Mhistéil, Oifigeach Athchumraithe Scoileanna
- 086-8596292
- sorcha@foras.ie
Nótaí don Eagathóir:
- Tá agallaimh ar fáil ar iarratas.
An Foras Pátrúnachta: Is pátrún náisiúnta ar Bhunscoileanna agus ar Mheánscoileanna araon é An Foras Pátrúnachta, agus an aidhm aige oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a fhorbairt, é a neartú agus é a chur chun cinn ar fud na tíre. Tá 79 scoil faoina phátrúnacht agus 17,000 dalta ag freastal ar na scoileanna sin. Tá éiteas ilchreidmheach ag 24 de na scoileanna sin agus tá éiteas ilchreidmheach ag gach ceann den 16 ghaelscoil atá bunaithe ag an bhForas ó bhí 2013 ann.
An Foras Pátrúnachta, the largest patron of Irish-medium schools, welcomes today’s announcement by Minister Foley regarding the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity Process. This agreement with the Irish Episcopal Conference Council for Education, offers the opportunity for schools to transfer patronage and change ethos to a multi-denominational model. The agreement is a positive step towards the increased provision of multi-denominational schools and increased choice for parents and school communities.
The process also provides current Gaelscoileanna with the opportunity to transfer to the only Irish-Medium patron, An Foras Pátrúnachta. Having provided multi-denominational education since opening our first school in 1993, we have been actively engaged in the reconfiguration process for the past number of years. Through this process, we have developed a pathway for schools which has resulted in the divestment of the largest school (320 students) to date from a Catholic patron.
Building on this success, we are currently consulting with our denominational schools where the school community considers whether or not they wish to reconfigure to a multi-denominational model. This process, facilitated by our Schools Reconfiguration Officer, allows school communities to consider how best to cater for their evolving needs. We believe choice, consultation, and comprehensive information is key for any transition to be a success.
There is an onus to ensure transparency and the provision of information on every divestment choice in the upcoming processes. In the past 15 years, when given the choice, every community who chose their new school to be a gaelscoil, chose An Foras Pátrúnachta as their multi-denominational patron. The facilitation of parental choice should not be overlooked in this process. Limiting information to school communities in relation to patronage options risks the process becoming a missed opportunity for providing real choice.
General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra has said: “This a great opportunity for communities to be more inclusive and cater for the diverse needs of children and their parents. It also provides a unique opportunity for the provision of multi-denominational Irish-medium education provided by an Irish-medium patron. Put simply, an Irish-medium patron for Irish-medium schools.”
ENDS
Contact:
- Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary
- 086-1738044
- caoimhin@foras.ie
- Sorcha Ní Mhistéil, Schools Reconfiguration Officer
- 086-8596292
- sorcha@foras.ie
Notes to Editor:
- Interviews are available on request.
About An Foras Pátrúnachta: An Foras Pátrúnachta is a national patron for both primary and second level schools, seeking to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. It is a patron of 79 schools, with over 17,000 students attending those schools. Schools under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta are located in 23 counties around Ireland. 24 of the schools have a multi-denominational ethos. Since 2013, reflecting societal demand, all 16 of our new schools have a multi-denominational ethos.