This article is from page 15 of the 2006-04-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
CLARE’S two Steiner schools will not be able to secure official recognition from the Department of Education until the start of the school year in September 2007.
Both the Raheen Wood School in Tuamgraney and the Mol an Oige School in Ennistymon had sought official recognition from the Department in the first move of its type in the State.
Clare VEC was acting as patron for the two schools but the Department has confirmed that the two applications have not been referred to the New Schools Advisory Committee which would have allowed them be recognized for next September.
The main stumbling block to the application is that the VEC replaced the original patron during the public consultation process.
Founding teacher at the Mol an Oige school Una Garvey met with the private secretary of the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin in Ennis last week where she was told that the school would have to re-apply.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said that the same circumstances relate to the Raheen Wood School.
Expressing disappointment that a technical hitch had delayed recognition for a year, Ms Garvey said if they had to wait another year, they would do so.
She said she was told by the Minister’s private secretary that as the school’s application was being done through public consultation and as it had changed patron during that process, it would have to re-apply.
“Nowhere is it stated in the guidelines that the process would have to be restarted if a school changes patrons. We have managed successfully so far and I’m sure that parents and ourselves will pull out all the stops to ensure that it continues. It is very brave of the parents and a huge commitment by them. The Department should be helping us instead of placing obstacles in our way”, she said.
Clare VEC is fully supportive of the applications by the two schools and CEO, George O’Callaghan has been lobbying to have recognition in place for this coming September.
Raheen Wood School spoklesperson, Pearse O’Shiel, said they were working closely with Clare VEC to become a nationally recognised primary school.
“Given the long-standing relationship we have with Clare VEC, we see them as the ideal patron for the school and are very thankful for their support. We see this move as a natural but significant step for theschool”,he said.
Mol an Oige School was started last September by a group of parents. It is run on a voluntary capacity and follows the new primary school curriculum, using Steiner methods. As part of the public consultation phase for the school’s application for funding, a Department spokeswoman confirmed that 21 responses were made in favour of the school with two against.