Integrated schools delve deeper into the Protestant faith

June 9 2005

Press Release issued by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE)

Integrated schools delve deeper into the Protestant faith

A new multi-media resource for Religious Education in Integrated Primary Schools called 'Delving Deeper' has been launched by NICIE at Rathvarna Resource Centre in Lisburn.

'Delving Deeper' focuses on the Christian faith from a Protestant perspective and is planned as resource to be used by Primary 3, 4 and 7 pupils from a Protestant background when Catholic children are receiving sacramental preparation.

Funded by the Integrated Education fund through a grant provided by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust and produced by NICIE this substantial resource was developed over two years by a working group including practising teachers, Education and Library Board Advisors and representatives of Scripture Union.

Each 'Delving Deeper' pack contains DVDs, CDs, a Spring Harvest Kids Praise CD and a variety of pupils' Bible reading notes and background notes for teachers.

The highlight of the launch was a presentation by pupils from Bridge Integrated Primary School from Banbridge who acted out one of the lessons, a catchy rap rendition of the Ten Commandments!

This resource will prove to be a valuable addition to Religious Education in the integrated sector and will also have added value beyond this target group.

Speaking at the launch, Terry McMackin, the RE support officer at NICIE said, "The Delving Deeper Resource is additional to the statutory 'core' curriculum for RE in Northern Ireland. It is intended firstly to help Protestant pupils to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of their particular faith identities. Opportunity is also provided in the resource for pupils to share what they have learned with their Catholic classmates who in turn will share what they have learned in their times of sacramental preparation. The resource is thus fully at one with a basic principle of integrated education that pupils at integrated schools 'should be nurtured in their parents' religious and national identity, while respecting the identity and appreciating the traditions of others."

Ends

More information

Philip O'Sullivan, Press Officer at NICIE

028 9023 6200 or 07710 882431 (m)

Notes to the Editor

1. In Northern Ireland, 95% of children attend segregated schools ie 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.
2. Integrated schools are co-educational, accept children from all levels of ability and social backgrounds and practice a child-centred approach to teaching methods.
3. Due to parental demand 700 pupils were turned away this year from integrated schools because there are not enough places to satisfy demand.
4. 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 website www.nicie.org
5. 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.
6. 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.