Integrated Education In Northern Ireland

EDM number 1162 in 2003-04, proposed by Harry Barnes on 11/05/2004.

That this House warmly commends the All Party Parliamentary Group on Integrated Education in Northern Ireland on the launch of its thoughtful Strategy for Integration which advocates that all parents should have the right to choose to send their children to an integrated school if they so desire; notes that 82 per cent. of people in Northern Ireland support integrated education and that 81 per cent. believe that bringing together children, parents, teachers and governors from all faiths and none is important in building peace and reconciliation but that 52 per cent. said that they did not send their child to an integrated school because there was not one in their local area and that demand outstrips supply with over 1,000 children being turned away each year; further notes that the document urges the Government to establish realistic levels of funding for the achievement of growth targets for integrated education, introduce measures to transform existing schools into integrated ones by supporting and funding a major conference, developing integrated teacher training in Northern Ireland, in line with the rest of higher education and strengthening the position of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education; and believes that by bringing Catholic, Protestant and children of other faiths together in a shared learning environment, they can learn to understand and respect, tolerate and celebrate all cultural and religious traditions and differences and thereby contribute to the growth of a culturally rich and self-confident society with a strong, shared identity.

This motion has been signed by a total of 30 MPs.