05/03/2009

Education Minister Drums Up Support For Integration

With over 18,000 children and young people being educated in integrated schools across Northern Ireland already, the sector has an important role to play.

Thats according to the NI Education Minister Caitríona Ruane (pictured with pupils, Stephanie Dempster, Laura Shaw and Rebecca Scott) who visited Saintfield's Millennium Integrated Primary School to help celebrate Integrated Education week.

She said that over 50 integrated schools will be using Integrated Education week to promote the theme 'It's a small world'.

"It is great to see the young people at Millennium Integrated study and research the cultures that help them to understand other traditions and societies.

"We have a multi-lingual society and the young people were learning and developing their language skills which will increase their interest and success in languages throughout their education.

"Integrated schools do have an important role to play in education and I have a statutory duty to encourage and facilitate integrated education," she said noting that, with the development of new technology and new initiatives such as schools promoting Fair Trade, the world is indeed getting much smaller and more accessible.

"Boundaries in education are being dissolved and pupils can swap stories, practices and experiences with their counterparts across the globe," she said.

(BMcC/JM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

20 November 2003
Alliance unveil plan for expanding integrated education
The Alliance party has unveiled a nine-point plan aimed at expanding integrated education in Northern Ireland. Education spokesperson, Eileen Bell said that while integrated education wasn't the total solution to problems locally, it was vital for the future of Northern Ireland if divisions between the two communities were to be overcome.
06 July 2022
£1.9m To Transform Integrated Education In NI
The UK Government is to provide funding of £1.9 million to transform integrated education in Northern Ireland, Secretary of State, Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP has announced during a visit to Lough View Integrated Primary School. The funding will help support schools through the transformation process as they work towards integrated status. The £1.
04 September 2006
Integrated schools to open despite funding block
Two integrated schools are opening their doors to children to pupils for the first time after not receiving funding from the Department of Education.
11 March 2024
Givan Urged To 'Met His Obligations' On Integrated Education
The Alliance Party has called on the Education Minister, Paul Givan, to met his obligations on integrated education following the removal of funding for a number of local schools.
13 March 2024
SDLP Launches Petition For Restoration Of Integrated Schools Funding
The SDLP has launched a petition calling for the restoration of funding for new buildings at ten integrated schools across NI. The petition follows the recent announcement of the withdrawal of this funding as part of the financial package agreed between Executive parties and the UK Government.