Tyrone schools write to parents over Integrated Education Bill concerns

SEVERAL controlled schools in Tyrone are sending out letters to parents, outlining their concerns over the Integrated Education Bill which was brought forward at Stormont last week by the Alliance Party’s Kellie Armstrong.

If successful, the Private Members Bill would lead to the promotion, reform and expansion of integrated education across the North. Ms Armstrong’s Bill also aims to increase the number of integrated school places, provide funding for the facilitation of this sector and give integrated education the same support as controlled and maintained schools.

Omagh Academy outlined their concerns over the Integrated Education Bill in a letter to parents and asked them to contact their assembly members if they share the same concerns about the impact of this bill.

Ruth Maxwell, principal of Omagh Academy, said, “I have concerns that this bill elevates one sector of our education system over others. Our community deserves a choice of which school that they send their child to and all sectors should have equal priority for access to places and funds.”

Christos Gaitatzis, who is the principal of Omagh High School, said governors have been informed about the concerns schools have over this bill and a meeting is set to take place on Wednesday.

Mr Gaitatzis said, “It is very likely that we are going to send out a letter to parents to make them aware of what is happening and ask them to approach local MLAs if they share the same concerns over the unfairness of this new bill coming through the executive.

“I find this particular bill to be divisive, to be unfair on the parents that have chosen to send their children to controlled schools which are open to all and fully integrated. We don’t need any more divisive policies, we need policies that will actually unite people and this particular bill divides our communities.”

Last week, in an open letter, the chief executive of the Controlled Schools’ Support Council Mark Baker, spoke out against the Integrated Education Bill.

He said that while Northern Ireland “must prioritise our children and young people being educated together,” “the assumption that only integrated schools can effectively perform this is fundamentally flawed, as is the assumption that all other schools are single identity.”

Mr Baker added, “Controlled schools are inclusive and promote diversity. Controlled schools are reflective of their local communities and open to all within them.”

Meanwhile, Imelda Kirk, principal of Drumragh Integrated College, has welcomed the Integrated Education Bill.

She said, “The Integrated Education Bill does not advocate to undermine or deny parental choice for other types of school. This Bill is specifically about Integrated Education and removing some of the barriers to the development of integrated education. It is not intended to make comment on the diverse range of schools that already exist in NI. However, it is our view that the Bill will allow continuity of choice for parents and increase access to integrated education in line with preference and the Good Friday Agreement.”

By Rebecca McGirr

r.mcgirr@ulsterherald.com