Integrated education: Campaigners have ‘lost their way’ says Paul Givan

Campaigners for integrated education in Northern Ireland have “lost their way”, Stormont’s education minister has said.

Paul Givan said there was a need for “real and frank conversations” about the sector and how “real integration” is achieved.

He said many integrated schools have faced “significant challenges in achieving and sustaining” what are regarded as “reasonable numbers” of both Catholic and Protestant pupils.

The minister announced his department was “reviewing the way information is collected for the purposes of assessing reasonable numbers” to support schools and “bring greater clarity to the process”.

Integrated schools aim to mix pupils from Protestant, Catholic and other backgrounds.

About 8% of children in Northern Ireland currently go to formally integrated schools.

In a written ministerial statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly, Givan said his department remains “fully committed” to supporting integrated education.

“However, that support must be exercised within the framework established by the assembly and interpreted by the courts,” he added.

“The law requires schools seeking integrated status to demonstrate that they are likely to provide integrated education, including ‘reasonable numbers’ of Protestant and Roman Catholic children.

“That requirement cannot simply be disregarded.”

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister called for a focus on “outcomes rather than labels” and “genuine integration rather than designation alone”.

He added: “In recent years it is hard to avoid the conclusion that those campaigning for integrated education have lost their way – failing to deliver schools which meet the legal requirements and often making implausible claims regarding the likelihood of achieving ‘reasonable numbers’.

“This is the time to rediscover the original intent of this laudable movement.”