Teachers in Ireland “do not feel free” to question the way religion is taught in schools.

Currently, many primary schools spend half an hour a day teaching religion - a subject that parents have a right to opt their child out of. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, teacher and INTO member Paddy Monahan described it as a “heartbreaking” phenomenon.  

“I find it just demoralising as a teacher,” he said. 

“It undermines my feeling of professionalism and it breaks my heart that we’ve [children] sitting in class, isolated and being treated differently, on the basis of their religious background - which I think is so wrong.

“And it’s so wrong to put teachers in this position.” 

Students listening to their teacher in a classroom, 22-8-13. Image: Wavebreak Media Premium / Alamy

Mr Monahan said the division becomes even more stark when students are being prepared for confirmation or communion - something that requires additional school hours. 

“They just sit there throughout lessons and at confirmation time and communion time, it’s much worse because so much school time [is spent preparing for them],” he said. 

“Day to day, practically as much school time is spent on religion as on science and history.” 

Employment concerns

The question of religious education was recently raised at the INTO Congress and a delegate suggested the trade union send out a survey on the topic. 

It is an issue Mr Monahan believes many of his colleagues find it difficult to have an open and honest conversation about. 

“Another speaker said… they better do [the survey] anonymously,” she said. 

“Teachers do not feel free to talk about this; teachers can be fired for undermining the religious ethos [of their school].” 

Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act allows a school to take “action which is reasonably necessary to prevent an employee or a prospective employee from undermining the religious ethos of the institution.” 

If the teaching profession is to have an honest conversation about the question of religion in schools, Mr Monahan believes it should be repealed. 

“Contractually, I do what I’m told,” he said. 

“Contractually, I do my job because I am absolutely not undermining my job and I am not putting myself at risk here because we are made to do this. 

“This is what the Department makes us do - I’m not blaming the schools, I’m not blaming the parents - basically, we need change from the Minister.” 

He also wants faith groups to take more responsibility for teaching children about religion. 

“[We should remove] religious faith formation outside school hours - as simple as that,” he said. 

“So, that kids aren’t othered in class; so, the Irish kids whose families aren’t religious aren’t sitting there basically othered in the classroom for half an hour a day.”

In Census 2022, 69% of people recorded their religion as Catholic - down from 78% in 2016.

Main image: Children play in playground of a Roman Catholic National School in Donegal. Photo by: Richard Wayman/Alamy