Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed the high level of engagement in the national Primary School Survey, saying it reflects how strongly parents and school communities value having a say in the future of education.
The survey received over 200,000 validated responses from households, alongside strong participation from school staff and Boards of Management.
Preliminary findings show:
- Around 60% of parents in denominational schools wish to retain that ethos
- Around 73% of parents in single-sex schools favour a move to co-education
- Around 87% of parents in English-medium schools support maintaining English as the main language of instruction
Minister Canney said: “The level of engagement here is really significant. It shows how much families care about their local schools and about being part of decisions that affect their children’s education.
“What’s also clear from the results is that views vary. In some communities there’s a strong preference to keep things as they are, while in others there is an appetite for change.”
He said the findings underline the importance of keeping decision-making at local level.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. What matters is what each individual school community wants for its future.
“The move to provide school-specific reports is very positive. It gives parents, schools and patrons clear information to guide the next steps.”
Detailed reports will issue to more than 3,200 primary schools in the coming weeks, supporting communities in considering their future direction.
