'Joined Up' taking small steps towards a shared future

Joint Press release on behalf of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and the Corrymeela Community.

Tuesday 8 March 2005 - For Immediate Release

'Joined Up' Taking Small Steps Towards a Shared Future

Today sees the launch of 'Joined Up' - a resource manual promoting good relations in the school community developed by NICIE and the Corrymeela Community.

It will take place at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Manor House Cultra, County Down from 10.30am -12.00pm.

The key purposes of the resource are to provide school senior managers, teachers and teacher educators with guidance and resources to support them in developing effective active learning approaches for exploring controversial and difficult issues with children, young people and adults.

Schools are situated at the heart of communities, playing a crucial part in the lives of children, young people, and the adults who work within them. Acknowledged or not, all the life issues and struggles of identity, relationships and community are present within the school setting.

The Northern Irish experience of the conflict has added a particular dimension to this, one which schools are often reluctant to address, given the difficult and divisive issues which it can raise. Other aspects of life, such as the increasing diversity of ethnicity, culture and beliefs within Northern Ireland society, bring valuable opportunities for learning, including more challenging themes such as the experience of prejudice and discrimination.

This comprehensive resource, generously supported by the International fund for Ireland and The Ireland Funds, explores these issues as an essential part of learning how to live in society, specifically in the contested and transforming society of Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the launch, co-authors Nichola Lynagh of NICIE and Mary Potter from Corrymeela said: "This material has been developed in partnership with schools, Education and Library Boards and Teacher Education Institutions. It has been encouraging to see the good practice within these schools and institutions and their openness to using new methodologies as they explore the issue of diversity. We hope this resource will be used widely within the whole education sector."

David Stevens, Leader of the Corrymeela Community added: "Community Relations in schools has been seen as about going on trips together. This manual brings Community Relations into the centre of the classroom."

Education Minister Barry Gardiner sent a message of support welcoming this new resource: "It is heartening to see the work of committed people attempting to address these problems by producing tangible resources."

Photo Opportunity

The press are welcome to take pictures at the start of the launch at 10.30am.
The keynote speaker is Derrick Wilson from Future Ways.

Notes to the Editor

1. Established in 1987, The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) is a voluntary organisation that was set up to develop, support and promote Integrated Education in Northern Ireland. The underpinning principles of Integrated Education is that by bringing Catholic, Protestant and children of other faiths together in a shared learning environment, they can learn to understand, respect and tolerate their differences. By choosing an Integrated Education, children and their parents are contributing to the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland.
2. The Corrymeela Community are people of all ages and Christian traditions, who, individually and together are committed to the healing of Social, Religious and Political divisions that exist in Northern Ireland and throughout the World. Corrymeela aim to be a sign and symbol that Protestants and Catholics can share together in a common witness and ministry of reconciliation and to provide opportunities for meeting, dialogue and learning in communities to dispel ignorance, prejudice and fear and to promote mutual respect, trust and co-operation. Corrymeela support victims of violence and injustice to enable the healing of personal and social wounds and to promote new initiatives for social and political change. Corrymeela address contemporary issues of faith and ethics and develop new expressions of Christian community, life and worship.
3. In Northern Ireland, 95% of children attend segregated schools i.e. either predominately Catholic or Protestant. The first integrated school, Lagan College, opened in 1981 with 28 pupils. There are currently 57 integrated schools in Northern Ireland, 19-second level colleges and 38 integrated primaries, educating over 17,200 pupils. This represents 5% of the total school going population.
4. Integrated schools are co-educational, accept children from all levels of ability and social backgrounds and practice a child centred approach to teaching methods.
5. Due to parental demand 700 pupils were turned away this year from integrated schools because there are not enough places to satisfy demand.
6. The most recent Millward Brown Ulster Omnibus Survey stated that 81% of people in Northern Ireland believe that Integrated Education is important to the peace and reconciliation process and 82% stated that they personally support Integrated Education. For more info and statistics please see NICIE web site www.nicie.org
7. The Integrated Education Fund (IEF) is a charitable trust established in 1992 to provide a financial foundation for the development and growth of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland.