Education Minister today announced that a
further Report to the Assembly on Advancing Shared Education has
now been laid to the Assembly.
This is the fourth such report following earlier versions laid in
2018, 2020 and 2022, and covers the period April 2022 to March
2024.
The 2024 Report outlines progress made in advancing Shared
Education over the reporting period whilst also highlighting some
of the challenges facing Shared Education delivery.
The Minister said: “I welcome that over
the reporting period, significant progress has been made in
returning pupil participation towards pre-Covid levels. This is
evident, with over 600 pre-school settings and
primary, post primary and special schools across Northern Ireland
being involved in Shared Education structures.
“Work has also continued on the capital
infrastructure programme to support Shared Education delivery.
Furthermore, the Department and the Education Authority have
continued to encourage, facilitate and promote Shared Education,
working in partnership with other education and sectoral bodies,
to support schools and other educational settings to deliver high
quality shared learning experiences for their pupils.”
The Report also sets out a series of next steps designed to
further develop and embed Shared Education across the education
system and beyond over the coming years.
The Minister added: “Shared Education has seen
significant growth, enabling participating schools and other
educational settings to work together in partnership. This is
bringing crucial opportunities for children and young people
across different religious, cultural and social backgrounds to
learn with, from and about each other, thereby building trust,
connections and friendships which can extend into family and
community life.
“As we move forward in our efforts towards further
embedding a shared approach across wider society, it is
recognised that this is a continuing process and one not without
its challenges. It will take work. What is clear, is that
everyone has a role to play to help overcome any such obstacles.
By working collectively we can ensure that Shared Education
continues to be a success and enable our children and young
people to have the best start in life.”
The 2024 Report is available on the DE website – www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/advancing-shared-education-4th-report-ni-assembly
Notes to Editors:
- Shared Education involves the sustained provision of
opportunities for children and young people from different
community, as well as social and economic, backgrounds to learn
together.
- The Shared Education (Northern
Ireland) Act 2016 provides a consistent definition of Shared
Education as “the education together of—
(a) those of different religious belief, including reasonable
numbers of both Protestant and Roman Catholic children or young
persons; and
(b) those who are experiencing socio-economic deprivation and
those who are not, which is secured by the working
together and co-operation of two or more relevant
providers.”
- Under the Act, the Department of Education has a duty to
“encourage, facilitate and promote” Shared Education and also is
required to lay a Report to the Northern Ireland Assembly on a
biennial basis which must detail the extent to which the
Department, the Education Authority, and other bodies impacted by
the Act, have complied with their respective duties and powers,
the level of participation in Shared Education and the extent to
which there has been any increase or decrease, and the extent to
which the purpose of Shared Education has been achieved.
- The purpose of Shared Education is defined as to deliver
educational benefits to children and young persons, promote the
efficient and effective use of resources, promote equality of
opportunity; and promote good relations, respect for identity,
diversity and community cohesion. The Report highlights a range
of evaluative evidence, surveys and research which point to the
continued positive impact of Shared Education.
- According to the most recent data available (as at June
2023), over 600 pre-school settings and primary, post primary and
special schools across Northern Ireland are involved in Shared
Education structures.
