Catholic Education an Irish Schools Trust

Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust (CEIST) is the trustee body for 107 Catholic Voluntary Secondary Schools in Ireland. CEIST provides the moral and legal framework that enable its schools to offer second level  Catholic education in Ireland. Its role is built on the  vision of its five founding congregations Daughters of Charity, Presentation Sisters, Sisters of the Christian Retreat, Sisters of Mercy and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. These religious congregations established CEIST in 2007 to ensure the viability of Catholic Education at post-primary level in Ireland into the future.

At the same time, the congregations also entered into another collaborative arrangement, to be known as the EDUCENA Foundation. EDUCENA operates with a twofold mission: upholding the distinct Catholic character of their schools and overseeing the management of entrusted properties meant for the advancement of Catholic education's mission and stability.

Organisation
CEIST CLG was incorporated in May 2007. The religious congregations appointed 16 CEIST members - 11 religious and five lay. The board of directors has 12 members - three religious and nine lay.

Day-to-day management remains the responsibility of each school's management, in accord with the Education Act 1998. The schools are supported by the trustees from the central office.

It currently oversees approximately 58,000 students and 4,000 teachers and administrative staff. Currently, one in six second level students in Ireland attends a CEIST secondary school.

Background
The origins of CEIST lie in the five Catholic Religious Congregations, with a history of over 350 years in post-primary education. Nonetheless, the challenges of the 21st century prompted the need for innovative frameworks, guaranteeing the relevance of Catholic secondary education as a viable option in today's diverse Ireland.

On that basis, provincial leaders of the five Religious Congregations signed the Charter of a new education organisation to be known as CEIST, an acronym for Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust. The Trust was officially established on 1 February 2007.

Education
The 107 CEIST schools are well distributed across the whole island of Ireland. CEIST schools are Catholic voluntary secondary schools and are inclusive schools, welcoming those of all faiths and none. Students in CEIST secondary schools[9] follow Ireland’s Department of Education Curriculum. The schools provide students with an opportunity to grow and prepare for adult life and pay special attention to the intellectual, emotional, moral, and spiritual development of every single student. CEIST schools integrate faith formation into their educational programs in the context of a modern, pluralist society. Students are provided with opportunities to deepen their understanding of religion, participate in prayer services and liturgical celebrations, and engage in spiritual reflection and growth.

Going Forward
As one of the biggest trustees in Ireland, CEIST is expanding its presence. The key vision is to continue providing a holistic education for second level students. Through the Strategic Plan 2022-2027, CEIST seeks to shape national policy development in education and to assert the role and contribution of the Catholic School in Ireland. Furthermore, in the promotion of a high-quality in teaching and learning, CEIST provides a large variety of training and facilitates a high commitment from the whole school community including teachers, students and parents in order to enhance the level of education and achieve inclusion and diversity.

Schools
• Carlow

• Presentation College, Carlow

• Presentation De La Salle College, Bagenalstown

• St Leo's College, Carlow

• Clare

• Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna

• Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon

• St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point

• St Joseph's Secondary School, Tulla

• Cork

• Christ King Girls’ Secondary School, Cork

• Coláiste an Chroí Naofa, Carraig na bhFear

• Coláiste Muire, Crosshaven

• Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Bandon

• Mercy Secondary School, Kanturk

• Mount Mercy College, Cork

• Mount St Michael Secondary School, Rosscarbery

• North Presentation Secondary School, Farranree

• Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane

• Presentation Secondary School, Mitchelstown

• Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty

• St. Aloysius School, Cork

• St. Mary’s High School, Midleton

• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville

• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom

• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Mallow

• Donegal

• Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana

• St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar

• Dublin

• Caritas College, Ballyfermot

• Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin

• Mercy College, Coolock

• Mercy Secondary School, Inchicore

• Our Lady Of Mercy College, Beaumont

• Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh

• Presentation Secondary School, Blackrock

• Presentation Secondary School, Warrenmount

• Sancta Maria College, Rathfarnham

• St. Joseph’s College, Lucan

• St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush

• Galway

• Ardscoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe

• Calasanctius College, Oranmore

• Coláiste Chroí Mhuire gan Smal, An Spidéal

• Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew

• Mercy College, Woodford

• Our Lady’s College, Galway

• Presentation College, Athenry

• Presentation College, Currylea, Tuam

• Presentation College Headford

• Scoil Bhríde, Tuam

• St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard

• St. Raphael’s College, Loughrea

• Kerry

• Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee

• Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland

• Presentation Secondary School, Listowel

• Presentation Secondary School, Milltown

• Presentation Secondary School, Tralee

• St. Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney

• St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion

• Kildare

• Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy

• Coláiste Naomh Mhuire, Naas

• Scoil Dara, Kilcock

• Kilkenny

• Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny

• St. Brigid’s College, Callan

• Laois

• Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington

• Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise

• Limerick

• Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally

• Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street

• Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa, Doon

• Longford

• Cnoc Mhuire, Granard

• Meán Scoil Mhuire, Longford

• Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon

• Louth

• Our Lady's College, Greenhills, Drogheda

• Sacred Heart Secondary School, Drogheda

• St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk

• Mayo

• Mount St. Michaels Secondary School, Claremorris

• Our Lady’s Secondary School, Belmullet

• Sacred Heart School, Westport

• Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh

• Scoil Muire agus Pádraig, Swinford

• St Joseph's Secondary School, Castlebar

• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina

• Meath

• Eureka Secondary School, Kells

• Scoil Mhuire, Trim

• St Joseph's Secondary School, Navan

• Monaghan

• Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney

• Offaly

• Killina Presentation Secondary School, Tullamore

• Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore

• Roscommon

• Meánscoil Muire gan Smál, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon

• Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown

• Sligo

• Coláiste Muire, Ballymote

• Mercy College, Sligo

• St. Mary’s College, Ballysadare

• Tipperary

• Our Lady's Secondary School, Templemore

• Presentation Secondary School, Ballingarry

• Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel

• Presentation Secondary School, Thurles

• Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir

• St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary Town

• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh

• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Newport

• Waterford

• Ard Scoil na nDéise, Dungarvan

• Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Waterford

• Presentation Secondary School, Waterford

• Wexford

• Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy

• Presentation Secondary School, Wexford

• St. Marys Secondary School, New Ross

• Wicklow

• St. Mary’s College, Arklow

Assessment
A recent review of its development over the past ten years identified certain strengths and weaknesses. There continues to be debate about state-sponsored denominational education in Ireland.