Introducing: At the Back of the Class
A podcast from Education Equality, giving a platform to children, parents and teachers to share stories about their experiences of discrimination on the basis of religion in Irish schools
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Real, raw, every-day stories.
Ever felt like other people just don’t understand what’s wrong with the way your child’s opted-out status is handled? Decided to send your child to a multi-denominational school, but found you had no option near your home? Forced to fake religious beliefs in order to gain employment as a teacher or access to a school place for your children?
Thousands of people in Ireland experience discrimination on a daily basis in our publicly funded schools. Here’s why:
95.15%
The percentage of Irish Primary schools run by a patron of a religious ethos in 2022/2023, according to published Department of Education enrolment figures. 88.5% of those schools have a Catholic Ethos, followed by 5.43% with a Church of Ireland ethos
63%
The percentage increase in the number of people with no religion living in Ireland between 2016 and 2022, amounting to 14% of the population, according to the Central Statistics Office’s post-census press release. Only 65% of pre-school aged children identified as Catholic in the 2022 census
30 Minutes/ 2.5 Hours
The amount of time per day/ week that schools are required to dedicate to religious instruction, as set out in the 1999 Primary School Curriculum, with the content of the programme solely determined by the patron of the school
400
The number of schools that the Programme for Government has committed to achieving as multi-denominational by 2030, at a minimum, in its “Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity
Transfer of Patronage of Primary Schools –
Information for Parents March 2022″
150
The number of multi-denominational schools available in 2022/2023, according to published Department of Education enrolment figures
1
The number of schools divested as part of the Government’s program in 2022. To reach a target of 400 by 2030, would now (March 2023) require divestment of 42 schools per year
“There’s no harm in it”
Only a child who feels “othered” on a daily basis can really explain the harm that this system causes to children. Only a teacher that has been forced to declare beliefs that contradict their morals can explain how this personally harms them. Only a parent who is faced with a reduction to their child’s school day, on a regular basis, due to there being no option for alternative supervision during a clerical visit, or religious outing, can explain the impact this has on their whole life. Only a parent of a 2nd or 6th class child can explain the endless school hours spent on preparation for religious sacraments and how this impacts their children’s education. This podcast gives people the space to tell their stories and help others to understand why, and how, the status-quo harms people
“Going to the back of the class by myself in front of everyone makes my tummy feel funny”
Opted-out Senior Infant
Child
“We had to move house to attend a school where my children would not be indoctrinated into a religion we don’t believe in. And we’re in the minority of lucky ones who have this option available in our county”
Leigh-Ann D.
Parent
“I can’t let anyone know that I’m not a Catholic, because I won’t get promoted and could even be fired if they find out”
Anonymous
Teacher
Ready to share your story?
Send us an email and we’ll get in touch with you