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The Integrated Education
movement has a track record of success, winning changes in law,
precedent and practice to lay foundations for the future.
The first success was the 1978 Dunleath Act, which allowed Catholic
and Protestant schools to transform to integrated status. At that
time none could be persuaded to do so. Today transformation has
been accepted as a way forward and over 30% of all integrated schools
have achieved this status through transformation.
The latest opinion polls show that 82% of people in Northern Ireland
believe integrated education is important to peace and reconciliation.
(Millward Brown Ulster, 2006) and 71% would support a request to
transform the status of their existing school to become an integrated
school.
Studies show that children in integrated schools maintain friendships
across the religious divide long after they have left education
- this is truly learning for life. (Eg Young Life and Times Survey,
2003-2005)
From 28 children in 1 school in 1981 to over 18,731 children in
61 schools at primary and second level in 2006.
There is a commitment to the provision of Integrated Education in
Section 13 of the Good Friday Agreement. In addition, integrated
education has supporters within most of Northern Ireland’s
political parties.
By proving demand and viability, the integrated schools have won
state funding of recurrent costs for new schools provided certain
stringent viability criteria are met.
Over the years the Department of Education’s criteria for
supporting integrated schools, especially as regards the minimum
number of enrolments, have fluctuated but we are very pleased to
say that successful campaigning has meant that in the year 2000
the criteria were reduced for integrated primary schools and in
2001 for integrated second level schools.
The required Year One intake for integrated primary schools has
been reduced from 25 to 15 in cities (Belfast and Derry) and 12
in rural areas. The required Year Eight (Form One) intake for integrated
second level schools has been reduced from 80 to 50. Religious balance
is also required - in the first year 10% of enrolments must be from
the minority religion, working toward an overall balance in the
school of 30% from the minority. In addition, new schools must have
secured a suitable site.
Government funding of capital costs may now be obtained after 3
to 4 years provided that growth, balance and long term viability
criteria are met. These criteria are not applied to approved new
Catholic or state schools, and they mean that the IEF must continue
to help parents to cover capital costs in the first few years.
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