A chara, – "Many fee-payingschools say they are unfairly excluded from State support" (News, December 27th).
When the fee-paying schools accept all students and don’t discriminate on the basis of their ability to pay fees, then we should talk. – Is mise,
CARMEL de GRAE,
Baile Átha Cliath 9.
Sir, – I read with some mirth your report that private schools are claiming that the State’s policy of providing them with lower levels of funding compared with “free” secondary schools may violate parents’ rights and is discriminatory by reference to our Constitution. A representative body for these schools has called on Minister for Education Norma Foley to commission an independent review of State resourcing for the private sector.
As part of this review, consideration should be given to all aspects of the Constitution which provide for the ideal of equality and the more profound discrimination that our education system imposes on those that do not attend private schools. Particular regard should be had to the directive principles of social policy enunciated by Article 45 of the Constitution. Or is it only certain types of discrimination which are unacceptable? – Yours, etc,
REAMONN O’LUAN,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – As private schools are demanding equal financial treatment from the government, I assume they will have no problem sharing their private income with less privileged schools in their locality as their contribution to educational equality. – Yours, etc,
TONY GRACE,
Cork.