The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and the School of Law, Trinity College Dublin are co-hosting a major Conference on Education & Religion: A Human Rights Perspective to explore the place of religion in Irish schools on Saturday 27 November 2010 at Trinity College Dublin. The forum promises to produce wide ranging discussion and robust debate on religion’s place in the classroom.
Dr Maurice Manning, President of the IHRC said "the beliefs and views of Irish Society are evolving and with that comes changing expectations about the relationship between education and religion. The IHRC in partnership with the Law School of Trinity College Dublin, believe that this conference can progress the discussion on education and religion by looking at it from a human rights perspective. Universal human rights principles are the common denominator that can bring diverse views on education and religion together. The IHRC is well placed to facilitate a consultation process on the matter and this conference is a very important step in that process."
Professor William Binchy, Professor of Law with the School of Law in Trinity College Dublin and IHRC Commissioner said "We are delighted to be able to bring together in one forum such a diverse mix of academics, educationalists, representatives of various religions in Irish Society, and those from a secular perspective, to debate this very important issue. This is a matter that has relevance to everyone in society, and whatever changes may be desirable to the current model of education provision in Ireland, it is important that it is achieved in a manner that accommodates the diverse views that exist on the issue. This conference can make a real contribution to that debate."
Ahead of the Conference, keynote speaker Professor Dr Gerhard Robbers said "Education is a process concerned with the whole personality of a young person and developing it. Education does not mean only conveying certain specific knowledge of facts and specific technical abilities. Education means to form a personality which is integrated in a culture. This holistic understanding of education also covers and includes religion. To form a personality also means to open the field of religious convictions and ideas to him or her."
Also speaking before the Conference, Dr Alison Mawhinney, Queens University Belfast, was keen to highlight the apparent conflict between Ireland’s model of largely denominational education on the one hand and the human rights obligations of the State on the other. She said "by the standards set by the international human rights bodies, the operation of a doctrinal integrated curriculum in an education system dominated by religious schools – where realistic alternatives are non-existent, raises serious concerns under both the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Treaties".
Speakers at the Conference include:
– Prof. Dr Gerhard Robbers, Institute for Legal Policy, Universitaet Trier, Germany
– Prof. Dr Eugenia Maria Relaño, Professor of Law and Religion, Complutense University (Madrid)
– Prof. Gerard Whyte, Trinity College Dublin
– Dr Oran Doyle, Trinity College Dublin
– Dr Alison Mawhinney, Queens University Belfast
– Dr Ursula Kilkelly, University College Cork
– Fr Michael Drumm, Catholic Schools’ Partnership, Maynooth
– Dr Anne Lodge, Church of Ireland College of Education
– Imam Hussein Halawa, Irish Council of Imams
– Paul Rowe, Educate Together
– Seán Ó Foghlú, Department of Education and Skills
– Deirdre O’Connor, Irish National Teachers Organisation
See attached programme for details.
ENDS/
A spokesperson is available for comment.
For further information, please contact:
Fidelma Joyce
IHRC
01 8589601
087 783 4939
Notes to Editors:
Background
Ireland’s demographics have changed significantly in the past 15 years. According to the most recent statistics, while the majority of persons define themselves as belonging to the main Christian Churches (namely Roman Catholic or Church of Ireland), a significant number of persons also now define themselves as being of no belief or of being of Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu or other belief.
According to the latest statistics published by the Department of Education and Skills there are currently 3,295 schools at primary level in Ireland; 3,165 national schools and 130 special schools, 97% of which have Roman Catholic or Church of Ireland ethos. This means that the Patron of such schools is often a Roman Catholic Bishop and there is Church representation on the Boards of Management of each school. Although all non private primary schools in the State are referred to as national schools, they are in the vast majority of cases owned and run by the Roman Catholic Church.
Conference.
The Conference will commence at 09:00 on Saturday 27 November 2010 at the Davis Lecture Theatre, Trinity College Dublin.
Full details of the Conference are available on the IHRC website: www.ihrc.ie/newsevents/events/
At the close of the Conference the IHRC will launch a discussion paper and call on members of the public and organisations to submit views to it as part of a consultation on the rights involved.
Dr Gerhard Robbers is a Professor in the Institute for Legal Policy, Universitaet Trier, Germany.
Dr. Eugenia Maria Relano is Professor of Law and Religion, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
People wishing to attend the Conference should RSVP attendance to Karine Petrasuc – tel:
01 8589601 email: kpetrasuc@ihrc.ie