Atheist Ireland and parents are challenging discriminatory Second Level School Transport Scheme
Atheist Ireland and many parents are challenging the second level school transport scheme, which is unjust and discriminatory. And Ruth Coppinger TD has asked the Minister for Education the latest in a series of Dail questions, which you can read below, in relation to the scheme. The scheme gives privilege ...
Minister Bruton’s new proposal is an unjust fine-tuning of an already unjust religious discrimination
Minister Bruton’s new proposal on schools admissions is an unjust fine-tuning of an already unjust religious discrimination. He is proposing to stop Catholic schools refusing to admit children on the basis of religion, but minority faith primary schools will be allowed to continue doing this. But there is a basic ...
Education Committee report must not lead to fine-tuning of religious discrimination
The Oireachtas Education Committee has made two important recommendations regarding religious discrimination in Irish schools. The most important proposal is respecting the right to opt out from religion in schools, and putting in place guidelines to enable this to happen. The second is ending the use of baptism certs in ...
Don’t be fooled – Community National Schools reflect Catholic teaching
A school in Kerry is to re-open as a Community National School. The Bishop of Kerry is to transfer a primary school to the patronage of the local Education and Training Board. The Catholic Church prefer the (ETB) Community National schools because these schools reflect their educational philosophy. When the ...
Ask your TDs today to vote for the Equal Participation in Schools Bill tomorrow
Tomorrow, Thursday 18 May, the Dail will vote on the Equal Participation in Schools Bill that it debated yesterday. Please contact your TDs today and ask them to vote for this. It is proposed by Solidarity and People Before Profit, and it incorporates proposals from Atheist Ireland and the Irish ...
Support the Equal Participation in Schools Bill 2016
The Equal Participation in Schools Bill 2016 will be debated in the Dail next Tuesday night between 8pm and 10pm. If passed this Bill would ensure that all children and their parents have access to an education system with equal respect and dignity and where their human rights are guaranteed. ...
Department of Education to Issue New Guidelines on Teaching Religion
Atheist Ireland has learned that the Department of Education and Skills is to issue new guidelines on the teaching of religion at post-primary level. This follows an engagement between a parent who is a member of Atheist Ireland and the ETB sector, with regard to how religion classes are conducted ...
Yet another Council of Europe Report calls for end to religious discrimination in Irish schools
Atheist Ireland welcomes that the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, has told the Irish Government that the State is responsible for ending the breaches of human rights of atheist and minority faith pupils and parents in Irish schools. When Commissioner Muiznieks visited Ireland last November, he met with Atheist Ireland, ...
Atheist Ireland asks IHREC to investigate human rights breaches in Community National Schools
Atheist Ireland has sent the following letter to the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission, asking it to investigate human rights breaches in Community National Schools. RE: ETB / Community National Schools / Section 42 (1) IHREC Act 2014 Dear Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission, We are writing to ...
ETBI/CNS now using new phrase “belief nurturing” to hide reality of faith formation during school day
It has become clear over the last week that the Minister for Education is supporting ETB Community National Schools. We are very concerned about the establishment of Community National Schools at primary level, given the record of ETBs in relation to the teaching religion at second level, and the amount ...