Update 4.16pm: A mother attending today’s protest against religious discrimination in the Irish education system said that her family was turned down by several local schools – until she had her child baptised.
“We were denied access to four schools in the area,” she said.
“We had to go and do the pretend baptism to get the certificate – and then we were allowed in.”
Great turn out, powerful speeches at #gatheringforchange from @edu_equal - the time for equality in education is now pic.twitter.com/YLXThW3y2m
— EQUATE (@equateireland) July 3, 2016
Hundreds of parents attended today’s Gathering for Change demonstration in Dublin, many of whom have been directly affected by schools’ admissions policies.
“[I’m here] mainly for my son, yeah, to try to get equal treatment for him,” said one father.
“I don’t want to baptise him, I don’t feel I should have to baptise him to get him into a State-funded school.”
Great speech by Paddy Monaghan local parent from Raheny campaigning for @edu_equal #gatheringforchange pic.twitter.com/k0raZuO6Sc
— Cllr.CianO'Callaghan (@OCallaghanCian) July 3, 2016
Earlier:
Hundreds of people are taking part in a march in Dublin city centre this afternoon, calling for religious discrimination in school admissions to be stopped.
Simon Lewis of @EducateTogether speaking at #gatheringforchange in #Dublin today pic.twitter.com/g12oDHE1YX
— Paul Rowe (@PaulRoweET) July 3, 2016
The group Education Equality organised today’s demonstration from St. Stephen’s Green Park to Leinster House.
Great crowd and atmosphere at #gatheringforchange @edu_equal pic.twitter.com/rsQfr0aY7Q
— Jean W (@Genieac) July 3, 2016
At the moment, religious run schools can prioritise which children they admit according to the school’s ethos.
More than 90% of primary schools in Ireland are Catholic-run.
Multi-faith ethos versus Catholic ethos primary schools. 2015. http://t.co/fTm3mXhWRv pic.twitter.com/ZHWkvNj7qg
— Allan Cavanagh (@AllanCavanagh) June 16, 2015
Chairperson of Education Equality, April Duff, says the so-called “baptism barrier” is not fair on parents or children.
“We want equality in all local schools, regardless of patronage,” she said.
“We want the law that allows religious denominational schools to discriminate to be repealed so there is an absolute prohibition on discrimination against children in admitting students – that it’s done on some other criterion, but not religion.”
