Teachers have criticised the Department of Education for its instruction to schools not to allow pupils to serve at wedding or funeral Masses during school hours. The instruction is revealed in the latest batch of evaluation reports posted on the department website. It identifies two schools which were told to review their Altar Servers' Policy as a matter of urgency. Commenting in separate reports about St Senan's National School in Foynes, Co Limerick and Scoil Naomh Iosaf, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, the reports say that during the inspection process it was evident that an Altar Servers' Policy was being implemented and some pupils were engaged in non-curricular activities off the school premises on a regular basis during school time. "The pupils are not under the direct supervision of a teacher during this time. And during these periods of absence, these pupils are denied access to learning activities," the reports read. "During the post evaluation meeting, these activities were brought to the attention of the board of management and a recommendation was made that the practice in relation to the school's Mass Servers' Policy be reviewed as a matter of urgency." The Secretary of the Catholic Primary School Managers' Association, Mons Dan O'Connor, said that parents' permission was always obtained where pupils were asked to serve at funeral or wedding Masses during school time. Local arrangements were made to ensure the safety of pupils to and from Mass. "It's typical of some inspectors who are trying to micro-manage schools," said John Carr, general secretary of the INTO. If parents, teachers, the school board and pupils are satisfied with the arrangements in place, then the department should have no role, he said. (Source: Irish Independent)