Pupil attitudes toward Christianity: a study amongst 4th – 6th class pupils
THE STRUCTURE of the provision of primary education in the Republic of Ireland has featured strongly in public debate in recent times, as pressure for a reduction in the 96% dominance of church run primary schools is vocalised from an increasingly diverse society. The most recent census gures show that 9.8% people state they have no religion - an increase of 73.6% since 2011. 28% of the general population are in the 20-39 year age group, yet 45% of those with no religion fall into this category. These are the parents, now and in the coming years, of primary school pupils. The predominantly denominational system of primary education has had to face the reality of demands for change, not just in the provision of religious education but also in relation to access and school enrolment policies, especially where patrons are under pressure to “divest some of their schools to accommodate the needs of those of minority or no faith backgrounds”.
* Full article available in printed copies.
Jacqui Wilkinson
lectures in Religious Education in Dublin City University.