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NICEM welcomes Shared Education Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

22 April 2013

 

NICEM welcomes bold and progressive Shared Education report

 

The Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) welcomes the report launched today by the Ministerial Advisory Group on Shared Education.

 

Speaking at the launch of the report today, Professor Paul Connolly explained that children’s rights had to override everything else the principles of non-discrimination and participation played a crucial role.

 

The report makes 20 recommendations for the advancement of Shared Education in Northern Ireland, with Professor Connolly explaining that 17 of those could be operationalised immediately, including the designation of schools under Section 75, and a review of the Community Relations, Equality and Diversity policy. The designation of schools was also recommended in NICEM’s 2011 report ‘Promoting Racial Equality in Northern Ireland’s Primary Schools’.

 

Three of the 20 recommendations relate to academic selection and in fact, when complying with its Section 75 procedures in 2010, the Department of Education noted the cessation of an entrance test would “make grammar schools more accessible for newcomer pupils”.

 

“The designation of schools under Section 75 would be a huge step toward ensuring children from all communities have equal access to education,” said Patrick Yu, Executive Director of NICEM.

 

“Likewise, a school designated under Section 75 would have to ensure that all school policies are equality proofed, which was something we examined in our report in 2011.

 

“This report is a bold step in the right direction for racial equality in education.”

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

NICEM’s vision is of a society where equality and diversity are respected, valued and embraced, a society free from all forms of racism, sectarianism, discrimination and social exclusion; where human rights are guaranteed. NICEM works in partnership, to bring about social change through partnership and alliance building, and to achieve equality of outcome and full participation in society.

 

The Strategic Advocacy Project aims to identify and address issues of socioeconomic disadvantage and systemic discrimination through a targeted programme of advocacy and lobbying focusing upon human rights and equality. The ultimate goal is to guarantee actual access to rights and the equality of result for BME communities in Northern Ireland.

 

For more information or interviews, contact Elizabeth Nelson: [email protected]; 07730747861; 02890238645

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