Integrated schools in Northern Ireland today

Résumé du document

Integrated School still exist today in Northern Ireland. Actually, their numbers continues to increase year after year. For instance, there were 62 in 2013 whereas there are 65 today: 45 integrated primary schools and 20 second level schools.
The general system of education in Northern Ireland creates a clear separation between school-pupils from different religious groups. A huge majority of the children in Northern Ireland are in schools in which at least 95% have the same religion. It clearly shows that outside the integrated schools, most of the children are in segregated schools. In October 2010 the First Minister Peter Robinson even described this system as a « benign form of apartheid which is fundamentally damaging to our society ».

Extraits

[...] Integrated schools' fundings mainly come from the Department of Education. But two organizations are also responsible for Integrated Schools' development: the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) and the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE). Both are still very active today. The government seems to be still supportive of the integrated school system. Indeed, in 2014 with the Stormont House Agreement and in 2015 with the Fresh Start Agreement the government has increased its fundings in favor of Integrated Schools. Furthermore, the Secretary of the State, Theresa Villiers, proved her support towards this education system by saying: "Anyone thinking of sending their children to an integrated school should be reassured that this is just the beginning of a substantial investment program. [...]

[...] However, integrated schools are sometimes criticized. The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) for instance ask about how integrated they really are as they are, according to them, owned by the middle class. Therefore, they see integrated schools as not sufficiently socially integrated. The Ulster Teachers' Union also points out the fact that integrated schools aren't available for every children: The integrated schools attract not the kind of child who would benefit from them but those who already have contact with the other side' and add that the consequence will be seen as a further extension of an already fragmented educational system However, this is not the reason why there is so few Irish pupils in integrated schools. [...]

[...] Indeed, a research led in 2003 shows that 72% of the parents should have chosen an integrated school for their children if there was one nearby. Only of the people surveyed were clearly opposed to integrated education. Considering that they were 13% with the same point of view in 1999, it is clear that over the years, parents are more and more in favor of integrated education. In conclusion, education in Northern Ireland is still quite segregated according to the religious background of the pupils, but there is a tendency, since the 1970's, towards a new type of schools: integrated ones. [...]

[...] Integrated schools in Northern Ireland today Integrated School still exist today in Northern Ireland. Actually, their numbers continues to increase year after year. For instance, there were 62 in 2013 whereas there are 65 today: 45 integrated primary schools and 20 second level schools. The general system of education in Northern Ireland creates a clear separation between school-pupils from different religious groups. A huge majority of the children in Northern Ireland are in schools in which at least 95% have the same religion. [...]

[...] Studies also show that integrated education are seen as a way to promote a better future for Northern Ireland. These studies underlines the fact that public opinion's point of view is more and more in favor of integrated schools, perceived as essential and beneficial for Northern Ireland society and its future. Actually, many researches has been led in order to examine the benefits due to integrated schools. From an educational point of view, integrated schools create more positive group positions, especially towards cultural diversity; pupils are more tolerant and understanding and they develop less extreme political attitudes. [...]