NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
11 03 2014
The Tide Turns for Integrated Education
NICIE welcomes Minister’s placing increasing integrated provision at the heart of area based planning.
The Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has tasked the Southern Education and Library Board and the NI Council for Integrated Education with carrying out a strategic review in the Craigavon area to consider how best to meet the demand for integrated places. He said, “This review should consider where additional places are needed and the full range of options available for meeting this demand, including the potential for establishing a new integrated school.”
This is a significant and positive development for integrated education, in particular the recognition that the full range of options to increase integrated provision should be considered, including the establishment of a new integrated school.
Noreen Campbell, CEO, NICIE said,
“This direction from the minister places integrated education at the heart of area based planning. It acknowledges that parental demand for integrated education should be met and clarifies the role of the ELB in planning to meet that parental demand, including the option of establishing a new integrated school.
NICIE looks forward to working with SELB in carrying out an immediate strategic review and identifying and meeting this need.
NICIE also welcomes the recognition given to Portadown Integrated Primary School as a successful, over subscribed school who have been approved for a new build and who will continue to respond to parental demand.”
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
- 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
