International Integrated Education Week IIEW 2016 was a huge success! During the week from 26 February – 4 March 2016 integrated schools and supporters of integrated education joined us in recognising and celebrating the contribution made by integrated education to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
Throughout the week, schools explored the 2016 theme, ‘harmony’, through dedicated activities and lessons. We showcased their broad range of activities on a big screen at the NICIE celebration event in the Long Gallery, Stormont, on Thursday 3 March 2016. We were also delighted to host a workshop for our young people, from integrated schools, at this event. Adults who attended Stormont were inspired to see 4-18 year olds, from different religious and cultural backgrounds, working in harmony through their dramatized exploration of the theme.
The benefit and potential of integrated education to impact positively on the thinking of our young people was underlined by the words of two former students of integrated schools who represented the Belfast Integrated Education Alumni Association at this event. The association’s Chair, Robert Magee, said “Attending Lagan College, with it progressive ethos, gave me a sense of enablement ant drive that has positively benefited my life in all aspects – socially, academically and professionally….It is a unique environment that promotes tolerance and understanding of all cultures and backgrounds – characteristics that are fundamental to creating a harmonious and prosperous community in Northern Ireland.”
You can read Robert’s speech in the blog section of this website:
https://www.nicie.org/news/blog/blog-by-robert-magee-chair-belfast-integrated-education-alumni-association/
International Integrated Education Week 2016 culminated in a fitting tribute to the hard work and exceptional achievement of two integrated primary schools, Portadown IPS and Glencraig IPS, in achieving the Excellence in Integrated Education Award, during the past year. A celebration of achievement event at Portadown Integrated Primary School drew International Integrated Education Week to a fitting close on 4 March 2016.
