Major conference to tackle faith-based education

Staff reporter

A major conference on education due to be held in Dublin next month will address the future of faith-based schools in Ireland, both North and South.

Organised by The Irish Catholic in collaboration with St Mary’s University, Twickenham in London, the October 20 event will be addressed by former UK Secretary of State for Education Dr Ruth Kelly.

Other speakers will include St Mary’s President Francis Campbell, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, former Minister for Faith and Communities in the UK, Baroness Nuala O’Loan and St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra President Prof. Daire Keogh.

Questions

The conference is aimed at anyone involved in faith-based education including principals, teachers, members of boards of management, policymakers, parents and anyone interested in the broader questions raised.

It is hoped that drawing on experience from Britain – where Prime Minister Theresa May has just given the green light for more state funding for Catholic schools – the debate in Ireland can be informed by the important role that faith schools play in a pluralist and secular culture.

In recent years, faith-based schools – particularly Catholic schools – have come in for criticism both North and South of the border. Some Catholics have expressed frustration that the debate is often unfair and one-sided. 

Criticism

The conference – to be held in the Hilton Charlemont hotel – will air some of the common criticism of faith-based education and look at the experience of other countries where faith-based schools are very much in demand, including from people who would not describe themselves as religious.

The conference will also include a panel discussion which will bring together experts in the field to tease out the range of challenges and opportunities facing faith schools.

For more information, please call Geraldine on (01) 687 4095.