Hopes grow for Mol an Óige recognition

Representatives of a North Clare primary school are “hopeful” the school will get permanent recognition in the near future after what they described as a “very positive meeting” with Department of Education and Science officials last week.

Mol an Óige Steiner National School has been in the process of seeking permanent recognition from the department for the past four years.
Principal of the school Una Ní Ghairbhith explained official recognition of the school is important for its future.
“Recognition would mean two things. For the parents, the pupils and the teachers, it means the future of the school is secure. On a practical day-to-day level, currently the classes are in prefabs and when we get permanent recognition then we can apply for an actual school building and that is the next step we would like to take.”
The school opened five years ago and now has 121 pupils enrolled from across North and West Clare.
“The meeting with the department was very positive. They are happy with the school and the teachers and our work here and they tell us we are close to permanent recognition. The last remaining thing we have to do is in relation to the infant programme and we will be working with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in relation to this. That is the next step.
“Then, we would be very hopeful, that with Ruairi Quinn as minister, he is always talking about the importance of diversity, we would get recognition. We do the standardised tests and our results in literacy are very much above average so we can show that what we do works,” Ms Ní Ghairbhith stated.
Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley recently called on the minister to grant full recognition to Clare Steiner schools.
Deputy Dooley was speaking after a topical issue debate in the Dáil where he asked the minister to grant Mol an Óige Steiner National School, Ennistymon and Raheen Wood Steiner National School in Tuamgraney full recognition.
“The department has failed to recognise the Steiner approach to education and the benefits it provides to certain children. I have visited these schools and observed the benefits to children and families in the community. The benefits of these schools outstrip any rules or procedures that may appear in rulebooks or departmental guidelines,” he said.
Deputy Dooley called on the Government to start an immediate review of the Steiner model of education and offer students and parents another alternative model of learning.
“I sincerely hope the review does not seek to marry the Steiner model with the existing Irish system. This would defeat the purpose of the Steiner school model and children would lose out on the benefits of the system.”