Westport Educate Together public meeting attracts large numbers

UP AND RUNNING Principal Sarah Calvey with pupils of Castlebar Educate Together NS, which opened in August 2016. Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin

Áine Ryan

THERE was an excellent turnout on Friday last at the Educate Together Westport campaign’s public meeting held to progress the establishment of a school in the town, a spokesperson has told The Mayo News.   
“We would like to thank everyone who came along and showed such interest and encouragement. There’s no doubt that there is huge support for an Educate Together national school in the town and we will work together to make this a reality in 2018,” she said.    
Parent, Mary Horan, said: “I was delighted to see such a huge turn-out at the meeting. All we want in Westport is the equality-based Educate Together school that was promised us by the Government in 2012. It now feels like Westport ETNS is one step closer to becoming a reality.”
The meeting was facilitated by Educate Together’s Regional Development Officer West, Jennifer Buttner and the principal of Castlebar’s Educate Together school, Ms Sarah Calvey. Educate Together national schools are co-educational while faith formation is carried out outside school hours. Westport ETNS would be the third Educate Together school in Mayo, joining Castlebar ETNS and Newtownwhite ETNS.
Government made a commitment in 2011 to provide an Educate Together school for the families of Westport after parents from 43 areas in the country, including the west Mayo town, were consulted about their educational preferences.

MORE www.educatetogether.ie/westport or on Facebook at Westport Educate Together.