A recently conducted survey has found strong support for the idea of introducing Educate Together secondary schools in Ireland.

The study by the School of Education at Trinity College has found that the overwhelming majority of parents with children in Educate Together primary schools would choose a similar second-level school if it existed.

Educate Together schools are multi-denominational and aim to promote integration of minorities in Irish society, as well as providing a balance between academic development and social well-being. There are currently 44 such primary schools around the country, with a further 12 due to open in September. Educate Together CEO Paul Rowe says the findings of the Trinity study should not be overlooked by Education Minister Batt O'Keefe.

Meanwhile a recent UN statement on church control of primary schooling in Ireland has led to some concern within the Catholic Church. The Human Rights Commission said this week that the Government needed to ensure that non-denominational primary education became widely available, in view of the increasingly diverse and multi-ethnic composition in the country.

It noted with "concern" the fact that the vast majority of Ireland's primary schools were privately-run denominational schools which had adopted a "religious integrated curriculum". This deprived many parents and children who wished to have access to secular primary education.

The commission identified primary education as one of three priority areas on which it wanted an update within a year - the other two dealt with detention and rendition. The report is the strongest statement yet from the commission, suggesting the integrated religious curriculum may be in breach of various articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

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