GREAT NEWS FOR INTEGRATED EDUCATION AS MINISTER ANNOUNCES PART-TIME NURSERY UNIT AT PHOENIX INTEGRATED PRIMARY SCHOOL, COOKSTOWN
The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) welcomes the approval by the Minister for Education, John O’Dowd of the establishment of a part-time nursery unit at Phoenix Integrated Primary School, Cookstown.
Phoenix Integrated Primary School offers educational excellence at the highest level in an integrated environment which promotes respect and celebrates diversity.
Frances Donnelly, Senior Development Officer, NICIE, said: “NICIE is committed to ensuring that all parents seeking an integrated place are assured one. The establishment of this part-time nursery unit at Phoenix Integrated Primary School, offering places to 26 children, will help support this aim.
“It is encouraging to see this expansion of preschool places in an integrated school. A significant proportion of parents want to see their children educated together and this is especially true where preschool children are concerned. NICIE argues that all preschool education should be genuinely non-sectoral and looks forward to the day when all our children can start their educational journey together.”
ENDS
For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact Frances Donnelly at (028) 9097 2910, or via e-mail to fdonnelly@nicie.org.uk or via email to lmcivor@nicie.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact Frances Donnelly at (028) 9097 2910, or via e-mail to fdonnelly@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
