The latest paper in the Ulster University series looking at the NI education system examines the Catholic RE Certificate and its impact on employment patterns in NI primary schools.

The author of “The Certificate in Religious Education”, Dr Matt Milliken, argues that reviewing the requirement for all permanent teachers in Maintained primary and nursery schools to gain this qualification could open the way for teachers of all backgrounds to apply to work in all sectors. (more…)

Following the successful parental ballots of two nursery schools to become integrated, the IEF is encouraging more parents to consider the option of transformation to integration for their nursery school. The ‘Integrating in the Early Years’ initiative supports schools wishing to become actively welcoming to children of all backgrounds and traditions. IEF hopes that the initiative could encourage more nursery schools to transform to integrated status and thus to help break down barriers and nurture community relations among children, families and communities.

Both Bangor Central Nursery School and Brefne Nursery School in north Belfast held parental ballots last year, with the vast majority of parents voting for their nursery school to go through the process officially called “transformation” to integrated status. At Bangor Central NS 97.6% of parents voting said yes to integration while 92.6% of parents voting at Brefne NS supported the motion. (more…)

Integration was celebrated at the Stena Line Belfast Giants game on Saturday (29 February) at a special event hosted by the IEF parental engagement team. Before the Giants’ match, families who would like their schools to consider taking the journey to integration gathered at the SSE Arena’s VIP West Lounge to hear from schools currently going through the process, called transformation, of becoming integrated. (more…)

The Department of Education has announced the reappointment of two members to the NI Council for Integrated Education (NICIE). Both members have previously served a four-year term on the Board of the NICIE as Department of Education appointed members, with their first term of office ending on 24 February 2020. (more…)

We would like to invite you to our ‘Integration Works’ information event for principals, teaching staff, governors and parents who wish to find out more about transformation. This is the process for a school to become integrated. A representative from the Department of Education will also be attending the event.

Date: 11 March 2020
Time: 9:45am-2:00pm
Location: Lagan College, 44 Manse Road, Belfast, BT8 6SA

Our locally elected politicians have now returned to the Stormont Assembly and we feel encouraged by the contents of the New Decade, New Approach agreement. In particular, the document acknowledges the role that education can play in building “a shared and integrated society” and outlines the commitment to “support educating children and young people of different backgrounds together in the classroom”. Integrated education forms a key part in this process as it enables children, from all religions and none, to learn together in the classroom every day. (more…)

The Special EU Programmes Body is finalising plans for a new funding programme, PEACEPLUS, which seeks to support peacebuilding work in NI and the border counties of Ireland.

PEACEPLUS is intended to replace the PEACE and INTERREG Programmes, whilst building on their achievements. (more…)