DUP MLA says all schools should be integrated

According to a DUP member of Stormont’s Education Committee,

all schools in Northern Ireland should be integrated.

Maurice Bradley also stated that segregation was being “kept alive by politics”. He went on to say “In my opinion, all schools should be integrated and we do not need another tier of education in the country,”

The committee gathered evidence about integrated education on Wednesday.

MLAs heard from Colm Cavanagh, who co-authored a review of integrated education for the Department of Education in 2017.

A 2017 review said Stormont had failed to “lead the planning, development and growth of integrated education”.

Around 7% of pupils in Northern Ireland are taught in integrated schools, which aim to enrol approximately equal numbers of Catholic and Protestant children, as well as children from other religious and cultural backgrounds.

Many schools from other sectors take part in shared education which involves students from separate schools and different backgrounds engaging in joint classes and activities.

Recent DUP manifestos, including the 2017 Westminster election manifesto, have called for “increased shared education across all education sectors”.

DUP MLA says all schools should be integrated

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