SCHOOL ADMISSION policies that give preference to past pupils and siblings could be banned if they are used to exclude special needs and newcomer pupils, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has signalled.
A Department of Education audit, published this week, showed provision for special needs and newcomer pupils often concentrated in vocational and community schools at second-level.
In recent days, Catholic secondary schools have moved to refute charges of educational "apartheid" in some of their schools.
Yesterday, the Minister said she was prepared "as a last resort" to impose changes to admission policies on those schools that refuse to shoulder their responsibilities.
The Minister accused some schools of using admission policies, including those favouring siblings and past pupils, to exclude minorities. She said other policies - like those requiring parents to register their child shortly after birth - also discriminate against newcomer families.
Admission policies giving preference to past pupils and siblings tend to be favoured by schools with lengthy waiting lists, including well-known Catholic voluntary second-level schools and fee-paying schools. In the audit, special needs and newcomer pupils made up less than one per cent of school enrolment in areas in the west and midwest. Neighbouring schools had very high numbers of these pupils.
In some cases, according to the Minister, "some schools were dumping on each other" by directing parents to neighbouring schools. She was speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools.
Ms Hanafin said she hoped enrolment issues could be resolved in discussions among schools in each area. Failing this, she was prepared "as a last resort" to change the admission policies of offending schools by regulation.
She is also examining proposals to appoint admission or enrolment officers in each region to police admission policies. The admission officer could intervene in disputes and force schools to amend their policies.
Two years ago, the policies of some schools in the Limerick area were changed after the alleged exclusion of some locals generated controversy. But these changes were made on a voluntary basis after discussions between schools.
The education partners - including school managers and teaching unions - have until June 8th to respond to the department's audit. In her letter to the education partners, the Minister signals how some schools are often slow to co-operate with others in their area because of the intense competition for places.
Yesterday, Ms Hanafin said she was dealing with a situation in which some schools would even view the exclusion of some groups as a "badge of honour".
The Minister has been under pressure from the Teachers' Union of Ireland to withdraw State funding from fee-paying schools, which receive €90 million in State support. But yesterday, she insisted it was not feasible to withdraw funding. "You cannot withdraw funding from the students they have because of the students they don't have," she said.
Earlier, Noel Merrick president of the association, said the debate on enrolment should be conducted in a less emotive way.
"Terms such as segregation and apartheid are offensive and hurtful to the efforts of teachers and principals all over the country and are doing great damage to our education service." Mr Merrick said there was no question of any equivocation from his members on this issue. "We know that the vast majority of schools are doing incredible work for each and every one of their pupils - irrespective of who they are. We will never support any school which would refuse pupils on grounds of race, special needs or background."
