Northern Ireland Office Minister MP has visited Erne
Integrated College in Enniskillen where she met with pupils and
staff.
As well as taking part in an interactive question and
answer session, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State discussed diversity and inclusion with pupils,
following a recent cultural day hosted by the Fermanagh school.
Speaking afterwards, Minister Anderson said:
It was fantastic to meet with the young people at Erne Integrated
College, along with staff, and I would like to thank them for
their warm welcome, and for their questions and insight.
Seeing greater integration of education across Northern Ireland
is a priority for the UK Government, and Erne Integrated College
provides a wonderful environment for helping local children grow
up in a truly shared society. This is an essential aspect of the
reconciliation process.
My hope is that integration will further become the norm and not
the exception in schools across Northern Ireland.”
School principal, Darron McLaughlin, said:
The College was delighted to welcome Minister Anderson. Our
Student Council members have a great interest in local politics
and were excited to have the opportunity to put their questions
to the minister. Having recently celebrated our ‘Culture Day', a
group of our students were also keen to show how we celebrate
diversity and live by our integrated ethos, where everyone is
valued equally.
Paul Caskey, chief executive of the Integrated Education
Fund, and Sean Pettis, chief executive of the Northern Ireland
Council for Integrated Education, said:
The Integrated Education Fund and Council for Integrated
Education are delighted Minister Anderson could take time out of
her busy schedule to visit Erne Integrated College and meet with
their young people, together with pupils from the adjacent
Enniskillen Integrated Primary School.
There is no better way to learn about integrated education than
by meeting the children and young people who experience it. The
Northern Ireland Office has provided generous support to
integrated education through both our organisations and we are
extremely grateful for that.
It is important to remember that the UK government are custodians
of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement and that the encouragement
and facilitation of integrated education is an essential part of
that Agreement.
Separately, Minister Anderson also met with representatives from
the Fermanagh Trust. They discussed some of the issues facing
local residents and the wider area, including transport, Lough
Erne, and access to public services and healthcare.
