The Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector is holding a three day open working session from today, Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th June in the Department of Education and Skills in Dublin.
Since the launch of the Forum on 19th of April 2011, some 200 written submissions on the issue of patronage and pluralism in the primary sector have been received. Chairperson of the group, Professor John Coolahan had sought written submission from fourteen main stakeholders, including the Department of Education and Skills, but also invited interested parties to make submissions. These documents are available on the Department’s website, www.education.ie.
The Advisory Group, which consists of Prof Coolahan, Dr Caroline Hussey and Fionnuala Kilfeather will now analyse and evaluate all the submissions received, along with examining research and practices on patronage and pluralism in schools in other countries.
The purpose of the three day working session is to allow the Advisory Group the opportunity to engage in discussion with the main stakeholders, including officials from the Department of Education and Skills, based on their written submissions.
A limited number of places have been made available to the public to attend the working session, but the proceedings will also be webcast live and available on the Forum’s webpage hosted on the Department’s website http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=10856&ecategory=56743&language=EN
Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn T.D. will attend the opening session from 9-9:30am on Wed 22nd June.
Professor Coolahan said "The key objective of the working session is to allow the Advisory Group to tease out the issues relating to Patronage and Pluralism with the main stakeholders".
He emphasised, "This is just one aspect of the multi-dimensional approach which the Advisory Group has adopted in addressing its terms of reference".
Following its consideration of the submissions and other documentation, the Advisory Group will convene a conference in November to present its provisional findings. The Group will then prepare a report for the Minister with its policy advice for his consideration.
"I hope that this report will provide worthwhile advice and guidance towards practical solutions on diversity in the context of patronage in primary school sector, as the Minister requested when he launched the Forum," concluded Prof Coolahan.