NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
Date 25th February, 2014
LAUNCH OF INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATED EDUCATION WEEK 2014
‘Building Bridges’
Enniskillen Integrated Primary School
The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) is delighted to announce that International Integrated Education Week (IIEW2014) will be launched at Enniskillen Integrated Primary School, Drumcoo, Enniskillen, on Friday 28th February, 2014 at 11.00am.
International Integrated Education Week 2014 (IIEW2014) will run from Monday 3rd March to Friday 7th March. The theme will be ‘Building Bridges’. This is an annual event where integrated schools across the province have the opportunity to come together and hold events to mark and celebrate Integrated Education.
The launch at Enniskillen IPS will include an informal cup of coffee for all those in our local community who have links with our school, a song especially written by Year 7 and Mr Jamie Johnston, a short humourous play to reflect the importance of building bridges in our community and musical input from Erne integrated College choir.
During the week Year 6 pupils with Dylan Quinn descended on Enniskillen and wearing coloured tops to represent the colours of the world, built bridges in unusual places!
The launch event will also include the Excellence in Integrated Education Award (EIEA), which will be awarded to Oakgrove Integrated Primary School. Enniskillen IPS were the previous recipients of the EIEA in 2012 and is delighted to be passing on the torch to Oakgrove IPS.
Adele Kerr, MBE, Principal of Enniskillen IPS, said:
We are thrilled with The Minister’s announcement today to increase capacity at our school thus allowing us to finally give every parent who wishes to have a place for their child in this integrated school the opportunity to do so.
The school community is very excited about Friday and are using it as a chance to thank all those who play a part in our school.
We are still smiling since June when Mr Obama and Mr Cameron visited and hope all our visitors will enjoy looking at our G8 photographs!
Enniskillen Integrated Primary School only succeeds because of the support we receive from our local community and the school’s willingness to submerse itself in all aspects of the local community.
Other events during International Integrated Education Week 2014 (IIEW2014) will include:
Wednesday 5th March (19:00): Professor John D Brewer will be giving the ACT/QUB Dunseith Lecture, entitled “The Limits of Politics: Reflections on a Damaged Peace” (Canada Room at Queen’s University, Belfast)
Friday 7th March (10.30–12.15): Celebration event at Stormont showcasing the talent of integrated schools through song and drama. The Guest of Honor will be the Irish Secretariat, Barbara Jones.
For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact [Adele Kerr, Principal, Enniskillen IPS on 028 6632 6799 etc], Noreen Campbell, Chief Executive Officer at (028) 9097 2910, mobile 0787 8721327 or via e-mail to ncampbell@nicie.org.uk or via email to lmcivor@nicie.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
- 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, altogether educating over 22,000 pupils.
- A recent Millward Brown survey found that 83% of parents in Belfast believe that integrated education is a vital part of building a shared future in Northern Ireland. 72% of parents believe that funding for integrated education should be prioritised, with enough places available for those who wish to send their children to an integrated school.
- Integrated schools are co-educational, accept children from all levels of ability and social backgrounds and practice a child-centred approach to teaching methods.
- 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 principle of integrated education is that by bringing together Catholic, Protestant and children of other faiths in a shared environment, they can learn to understand, respect and tolerate differences. For more information please visit www.nicie.org
