‘Hand-in-Hand’ with Integrated Education
 
 

Ala Khatib and Dalia Peretz, the Jewish and Arab co-principals of the Max Rayne Hand in Hand School, Jerusalem with Zak Weatherup, Beth Holden pupils from Millennium Integrated Primary, Saintfeild, Co Down, Northern Ireland

 
Over the last number of months planning has been underway to bring the co-principals from the Max Rayne Jerusalem School to visit Millennium Integrated Primary school in Saintfield, CountyDown, with a reciprocal visit to Israel taking place in April 2010. 
 
Ala Khatib and Dalia Peretz, the Jewish and Arab co-principals of the Hand in HandSchool, arrived in Northern Ireland on the 18 January to see how integrated education Northern Ireland forges strong links between communities.
 
During their week long visit, they will meet with principals from integrated schools and representatives from the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and the Integrated Education Fund and with Dr Claire McGlynn of Queen’s University, School of Education.
 
Millennium principal, Mary Roulston said; “Hand in Hand and Integrated Education both share similar values, face similar challenges and share a similar journey in pursuing their objective of building bridges between communities through integrated schools. Hand in Hand and the Integrated Schools Movement want to create opportunities for children to experience an education that gives them the chance to understand, respect and celebrate religious and cultural difference in each society.”
 
Ala Khatib said; “The world is a much smaller place than it used to be and the reality of increasing cultural and religious diversity in any society presents challenges and opportunities. As Integrated Education in Northern Ireland and Hand in Hand in Israel have developed significant experience in educating children together in a divided society, it seems right that we share such experiences and learn from one another despite different contexts.”
 
Ms Peretz said; “The two types of schools in both Israel and Northern Ireland are excellent models of practice and are well positioned to provide a foundation to build an exchange and linkage programme, which would allow both school models to share and reflect on best practice and allow children in both countries an opportunity to meaningfully engage with others from different cultural backgrounds.”
 
Dr McGlynn from Queen’s School of Education has been researching integrated education for more than ten years, and the visit is an important part in her ongoing research. She has completed extensive research on multicultural and intercultural education, education for social cohesion in conflict and post-conflict societies and teacher education for diversity.
 
Dr McGlynn said: “Northern Ireland and Israel have both experienced serious conflict. Both societies have highly segregated education systems and face similar challenges in building peace and reconciliation.
 
“By bringing together the principals of the Hand in Hand School and Millennium Integrated Primary School, we can gain a comparative insight into the leadership and practice of integrated education in Northern Ireland and Israel, as well as the challenges it faces. “
 
The exchange has been made possible through a kind donation made by Baroness Neuberger to the Integrated Education Fund and ‘Hand in Hand’ (through the Jerusalem Foundation). Baroness Neuberger is a keen supporter of the Jerusalem school and its endeavours to educate young people together.