The Lagan Valley MLA said: “First and foremost, Alliance want to see an excellent education system, which puts the needs of all our young people at its core. Integrated Education is a key part of that.
“The Independent Review of Education was clear when it stated that they support integrated education and believe that an increase in the number of integrated schools would be in the interests of Northern Irish society.
“Over the years, and most recently witnessed in North Down, there has been a clear demand for Integrated Education, however, the Department, which has been held by a DUP Minister since 2016, hasn’t acted on that demand.
“While the launch of this consultation is positive, and I welcome the move to have a better discussion around what integrated education is, the Education Minister’s approach to this issue must differ from his approach he took with schools in North Down, and his actions must align with the strategy.
“Integrated education is not just about religious mixing between Catholics and protestants, it’s about a much broader definition of educating young people from different backgrounds together. It is also about the make-up of the Board of Governors, having a detailed plan to increasingly develop integration and understanding through faith, sport, language and more.
“The strategy clearly outlines the areas where integrated schools are oversubscribed, yet what is hard to understand is that we have a Minister blocking the parental choice of schools in those very same areas to become integrated.
“As always, this is about action, not just words on a page, and that is what we need from the Minister and his department.”
“The Independent Review of Education was clear when it stated that they support integrated education and believe that an increase in the number of integrated schools would be in the interests of Northern Irish society.
“Over the years, and most recently witnessed in North Down, there has been a clear demand for Integrated Education, however, the Department, which has been held by a DUP Minister since 2016, hasn’t acted on that demand.
“While the launch of this consultation is positive, and I welcome the move to have a better discussion around what integrated education is, the Education Minister’s approach to this issue must differ from his approach he took with schools in North Down, and his actions must align with the strategy.
“Integrated education is not just about religious mixing between Catholics and protestants, it’s about a much broader definition of educating young people from different backgrounds together. It is also about the make-up of the Board of Governors, having a detailed plan to increasingly develop integration and understanding through faith, sport, language and more.
“The strategy clearly outlines the areas where integrated schools are oversubscribed, yet what is hard to understand is that we have a Minister blocking the parental choice of schools in those very same areas to become integrated.
“As always, this is about action, not just words on a page, and that is what we need from the Minister and his department.”