Monday, 24th February, 2014

International Integrated Education Week 2014 (IIEW 2014) will take place from Monday 3rd to Friday 7th March. The theme will be ‘Building Bridges’.

This is an annual event where integrated schools have the opportunity to celebrate their integrated ethos.

The key events will be as follows:

Friday 28th February (11:00): Launch of IIEW 2014 at Enniskillen IPS, where Oakgrove IPS will be presented with the ‘Excellence in Integrated Education Award’ (EIEA).

Wednesday 5th March (19:00 for 1930 start): Professor John D Brewer will be guest speaker at the All Children Together/QUB Dunleath Lecture, giving the lecture, entitled “The Limits of Politics: Reflections on a Damaged Peace” (Canada Room at Queen’s University, Belfast).

John Brewer is Professor of Post Conflict Studies in the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University. He runs the £1.26m Leverhulme Trust-funded Compromise after Conflict research programme in the Institute, which focuses on victims in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka and South Africa, and has a special interest in religious peacebuilding.

This is a public event and for further information, please contact NICIE at 028 9097 2910.

Friday 7th March (10.30–12.30): Celebration event in the Long Gallery at Stormont, showcasing the talents of integrated schools through song and drama. Trevor Lunn, MLA, will be hosting this event. The Guest of Honour will be the Irish Secretariat, Barbara Jones.

Schools are already exploring the ‘Building Bridges’ theme by making paper links, linking each student in each class around the school.

IIEW2013 ‘Me, We, Our World’ was a great success and we are hoping we can build on that success for IIEW2014.

If you require further information, please contact NICIE on 028 9097 2910.

For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact 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

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, altogether educating over 22,000 pupils.

2. 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.

3. Integrated schools are co-educational, accept children from all levels of ability and social backgrounds and practice 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 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