Maynooth (Ireland), 6 May 2026 | OIDEL held last week in Saint Patrick’s College, Ireland, its 56th Executive Committee Meeting and 40th General Assembly, two key gatherings aimed at defining the organization’s strategic priorities for the coming years.
The meetings took place at the Columba Centre of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and brought together more than 20 participants in person and over 15 participants online from different countries. The gatherings provided an opportunity to review OIDEL’s main activities over the past year while discussing the challenges and projects that will shape the organization’s future work.
During the Executive Committee Meeting, participants addressed major issues related to the follow-up of the 2024–2026 Strategic Plan, the admission of new members, the ratification of the 2026 budget, and the renewal and appointment of members of the organization’s governing bodies. In this regard, we would like to announce the incorporation of a new member of the Executive Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Brochier, Director of the Departments of Philosophy and Psychology at IPC Paris.
The General Assembly subsequently approved the 2025 activity report, the annual accounts, and the 2026 budget, reaffirming OIDEL’s commitment to promoting the right to education and freedom of education worldwide.
The day was preceded by a presentation on the history of independent education in Ireland, offering participants valuable insight into the country’s longstanding tradition of educational pluralism. Following the meetings, attendees took part in a guided tour of the historic campus of Saint Patrick’s College, one of Ireland’s most emblematic academic and cultural institutions.
Beyond the formal sessions, the gathering represented an especially valuable opportunity for OIDEL members to strengthen ties, share international experiences, and reflect together on the challenges facing freedom of education in different national and international contexts.
Founded in Geneva, OIDEL is an international non-governmental organization with consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe, dedicated to promoting the right to education and freedom of education worldwide.
