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19/09/2006
Hain celebrates 25 years of integrated education
Secretary of State, Peter Hain, has today marked the 25th anniversary of integrated education with a challenge to the Northern Ireland education sector to do more to bring young people together.
Speaking at the celebrations at Lagan College - Northern Ireland’s first integrated school, Mr Hain said: “The courage and foresight of parents in Belfast in the depths of the Troubles in 1981 to establish a school in which to educate Protestants and Catholics together is remarkable.
“Their vision, which saw 28 pupils enter this College 25 years ago, has blossomed to see more than 17,000 young people attending almost 60 integrated schools across Northern Ireland today.”
Looking to the future, Mr Hain said: “Northern Ireland’s young people have a need and a right to meet with young people from other communities. This interaction should form an important part of their education as citizens. They can best understand their own identities if they also understand and respect other identities, and have the insight to appreciate the common bonds of all traditions.”
The Secretary of State acknowledged the challenge facing the entire education sector in the context of the segregated schools system and falling enrolments and said that “taken together, these factors have had a dramatic impact on our schools, with 50,000 empty desks across Northern Ireland.
“We must embrace collaboration and sharing across and between school sectors, allowing children and young people to share experiences and ensuring education spending is going to children in classrooms, not on maintaining empty desks.”
Mr Hain concluded: “Professor Sir George Bain is currently examining these issues through the Strategic Review of Education. I very much look forward to receiving the conclusions of his review in November, and I am grateful to everyone who has engaged with Sir George and his team as part of the review.”
(EF/KMcA)
Speaking at the celebrations at Lagan College - Northern Ireland’s first integrated school, Mr Hain said: “The courage and foresight of parents in Belfast in the depths of the Troubles in 1981 to establish a school in which to educate Protestants and Catholics together is remarkable.
“Their vision, which saw 28 pupils enter this College 25 years ago, has blossomed to see more than 17,000 young people attending almost 60 integrated schools across Northern Ireland today.”
Looking to the future, Mr Hain said: “Northern Ireland’s young people have a need and a right to meet with young people from other communities. This interaction should form an important part of their education as citizens. They can best understand their own identities if they also understand and respect other identities, and have the insight to appreciate the common bonds of all traditions.”
The Secretary of State acknowledged the challenge facing the entire education sector in the context of the segregated schools system and falling enrolments and said that “taken together, these factors have had a dramatic impact on our schools, with 50,000 empty desks across Northern Ireland.
“We must embrace collaboration and sharing across and between school sectors, allowing children and young people to share experiences and ensuring education spending is going to children in classrooms, not on maintaining empty desks.”
Mr Hain concluded: “Professor Sir George Bain is currently examining these issues through the Strategic Review of Education. I very much look forward to receiving the conclusions of his review in November, and I am grateful to everyone who has engaged with Sir George and his team as part of the review.”
(EF/KMcA)
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