'Catholic Schools opening Their Doors to Teachers of Any Faith'* was the front page headline in The Irish News earlier this month.
The paper was reporting on a change of policy by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) to relax the requirement for teachers in Catholic primary schools in Northern Ireland to undertake the Catholic Education Certificate in Religious Education. On first reading, the headline seemed to suggest a radical change from the current policy, where applicants to Catholic primary and nursery schools are required to undertake the RE certificate. If the requirement were removed then this would surely be a new era for Catholic education for it would change the religious nurture role of the teacher in a Catholic primary classroom and the principle that faith-development is fully intertwined with all other aspects of the education of children in the school.
The exact situation can be understood more clearly, however, by reading a circular to principals published by CCMS. The requirement for Catholic certificates is not removed but postponed. It remains 'a necessary professional qualification for those committed to teaching in a Catholic Maintained Primary or Nursery School.' The precise detail of the rule-change is that a candidate may be appointed to a post without a Religious Education certificate but they have to satisfy the requirement for such within three years.
But while it would seem the policy isn't changing significantly it does open the door to some incongruities which lead to further interesting questions for those inside and outside of the Catholic church about the nature and use of the Catholic Certificate in RE as we move into a more plural, shared teaching profession in the twenty-first century.
To begin, what will be the status of those teachers in a Catholic school who do not have the certificate? Will the teachers who do not have a certificate teach RE during the three years 'probation'? And what is the situation regarding a teacher's refusal to teach RE as a right of conscience once the three years is up? Or would failure to obtain a certificate be grounds for dismissal?
The circular notes that completion of the certificate indicates 'a demonstrable commitment to the faith based nature of the Catholic Education System.' From a wider perspective this raises the question of what it means to hold a certificate and whether this is different from before? Is it an indication of a certain depth or sincerity with which a teacher holds to their Catholic faith or is it an indication of a broad assent to the values of Catholic schools, something which doesn't actually require a Catholic faith?
The Irish News journalist, Simon Doyle, also notes that the requirement for a Catholic Certificate in Maintained Primary and Nursery schools has been an equality issue for teachers who are Protestant or non-believers. Indeed the statistics he states give food for thought: 'St Mary's graduates equipped with the certificate could work in 850 schools across the North. Stranmillis graduates without it have a choice of around 400.' Yet, whether the postponement of the production of a certificate actually makes any difference in terms of access of Protestant teachers to posts in Catholic Primary schools remains to be seen.
The newspaper article reported that some Protestant young people have applied for and completed a course in Catholic RE, something which I have also been aware of, but what does it mean for a Protestant or non-believer to hold a certificate in Catholic RE?
While the rule-change may not be as radical as the newspaper headlines suggest, there is no doubt that this is a significant moment, for it opens the door on a debate about an issue that is at the very heart of Catholic education.
*(The Irish News 12 April 2013, p.4)
The paper was reporting on a change of policy by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) to relax the requirement for teachers in Catholic primary schools in Northern Ireland to undertake the Catholic Education Certificate in Religious Education. On first reading, the headline seemed to suggest a radical change from the current policy, where applicants to Catholic primary and nursery schools are required to undertake the RE certificate. If the requirement were removed then this would surely be a new era for Catholic education for it would change the religious nurture role of the teacher in a Catholic primary classroom and the principle that faith-development is fully intertwined with all other aspects of the education of children in the school.
The exact situation can be understood more clearly, however, by reading a circular to principals published by CCMS. The requirement for Catholic certificates is not removed but postponed. It remains 'a necessary professional qualification for those committed to teaching in a Catholic Maintained Primary or Nursery School.' The precise detail of the rule-change is that a candidate may be appointed to a post without a Religious Education certificate but they have to satisfy the requirement for such within three years.
But while it would seem the policy isn't changing significantly it does open the door to some incongruities which lead to further interesting questions for those inside and outside of the Catholic church about the nature and use of the Catholic Certificate in RE as we move into a more plural, shared teaching profession in the twenty-first century.
To begin, what will be the status of those teachers in a Catholic school who do not have the certificate? Will the teachers who do not have a certificate teach RE during the three years 'probation'? And what is the situation regarding a teacher's refusal to teach RE as a right of conscience once the three years is up? Or would failure to obtain a certificate be grounds for dismissal?
The circular notes that completion of the certificate indicates 'a demonstrable commitment to the faith based nature of the Catholic Education System.' From a wider perspective this raises the question of what it means to hold a certificate and whether this is different from before? Is it an indication of a certain depth or sincerity with which a teacher holds to their Catholic faith or is it an indication of a broad assent to the values of Catholic schools, something which doesn't actually require a Catholic faith?
The Irish News journalist, Simon Doyle, also notes that the requirement for a Catholic Certificate in Maintained Primary and Nursery schools has been an equality issue for teachers who are Protestant or non-believers. Indeed the statistics he states give food for thought: 'St Mary's graduates equipped with the certificate could work in 850 schools across the North. Stranmillis graduates without it have a choice of around 400.' Yet, whether the postponement of the production of a certificate actually makes any difference in terms of access of Protestant teachers to posts in Catholic Primary schools remains to be seen.
The newspaper article reported that some Protestant young people have applied for and completed a course in Catholic RE, something which I have also been aware of, but what does it mean for a Protestant or non-believer to hold a certificate in Catholic RE?
While the rule-change may not be as radical as the newspaper headlines suggest, there is no doubt that this is a significant moment, for it opens the door on a debate about an issue that is at the very heart of Catholic education.
*(The Irish News 12 April 2013, p.4)