Chai Brady
Dr John Murray As the debate about religious instruction in schools heats up a theologian and former teacher has said that providing alternate tuition will be “a source of frustration” for Catholic schools.
Education Minister Richard Bruton and about 275 State-run secondary schools in the Education and Training Board sector are currently at a stand-off as the department have directed schools to offer another timetabled class instead of religious instruction.
Dr John Murray, a lecturer in Dublin City University, said: “Having been a teacher at second level for years myself I can see clearly that the practical questions are important and schools would find it difficult to put it into practice.”
“So something being imposed on schools which don’t have the resources to do it would be a source of frustration I’m sure for school principals and school staff,” he added.
The directive came into effect this month.