NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
27 February, 2013
Launch of International Integrated Education Week 2013
On Friday March 1, the launch of International Integrated Education Week will show what the future face of education in Northern Ireland should and could be.
The theme for the week is ‘Me, We, Our World’ and the event will be hosted by Ballycastle Integrated Primary School, Ballycastle. The guest speaker will be Patrick McGrath of i-Teach and the event will commence at 10.30am.
The huge development in digital technologies now allows children to connect globally with the use of, for example, ‘tablet’ computers and video conferencing, where global communication is only a ‘click’ or a keystroke away. The world is now a much more accessible place, allowing connections which would have been unthinkable even in Marconi’s day.
Ballycastle IPS will present ‘Integration FM’, a drama exploring what connections mean in this digital age and the school’s Choir will entertain guests.
International Integration Week will take place from 4-10 March, 2013, when integrated schools across the province will hold events to mark and celebrate Integrated Education.
You can follow IIEW2013 at #IIEW2013 or click on our website https://www.nicie.org/iiew2013/
ENDS
For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact Noreen Campbell, Chief Executive Officer at (028) 9097 2910 or via email to ncampbell@nicie.org.uk or Louise McIvor, Communications Secretary, lmcivor@nicie.org.uk tel: (028) 9097 2910.
Notes to the Editor
1. In Northern Ireland, about 93% of children attend schools which are either exclusively or predominantly Catholic or Protestant. The first integrated school, Lagan College, opened in 1981 with 28 pupils. There are currently 62 integrated schools in Northern Ireland, 20 second level colleges and 42 integrated primaries, educating over 21,000 pupils.
2. A recent Ipsos Mori poll found that almost 90% of the population support Integrated Education and more than 90% believe that Integrated Education is important for promoting a shared and better future and promoting mutual process.
3. Integrated schools are co-educational, accept children from all levels of ability and social backgrounds and practise a child-centred approach to teaching methods.
4. Established in 1987, The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) is a voluntary organisation that was set up to develop, support and promote Integrated Education in Northern Ireland. The underpinning principles of Integrated Education is that by bringing Catholic, Protestant and children of other faiths together in a shared learning environment, they can learn to understand, respect and tolerate their differences. For more information please visit www.nicie.org
