Catherine Reilly asks why it took so long for the Department of Education to act on the problems at the North Dublin Muslim School, given that these problems had been known about for years (Why was Dublin Muslim school untouchable, 25 June 2009).
Isn’t this the same question that’s been asked about the abuse that took place in Ireland’s Catholic schools? And the answer is also the same. Fundamentally it comes down to the hands-off approach that this State has taken to the education of its children, with religions being shown undue deference to run their schools as they see fit.
It is more clear now than ever before that this policy has failed Irish children – Catholic, Muslim and otherwise.
It is well past time for education to be taken out of the hands of the various religions and placed under proper and effective public control.
Wendy Lyon
Dublin 7
