Mowlam hits out at vested interests in education

Church and political leaders in Northern Ireland had a vested interest in preventing children of different religions being educated together, former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam said today.

Mrs Mowlam who was officially opening the new integrated college in Armagh City said the growth of integrated education was a crucial step in ensuring the success of the peace process.

She said political parties and churches had been an obstacle in the way of achieving more integrated schools.

“Although the churches and political parties paid lip service to integrated education they are not that keen to move further down the road because without integrated education they have a ready made church population in church schools and the parties have ready made party supporters in the schools too.

“I think it is really important that integrated education is there to stop these vested interests getting their way.”

Mrs Mowlam said that while the integrated movement did not enjoy the full support of the political and religious establishments she hoped the situation was beginning to change.

“I think as the movement grows they will begin to see the advantages. I just pointed out historically when I came to Northern Ireland I did see vested interests. I see less of it now when I talk to them and I think it’s all moving along the path to peace and that’s a plus.”

The former British cabinet minister who has become a keen advocate of the integrated system since leaving her post as Northern Ireland Secretary in October 1999 called on the UK government to lower the minimum funding requirement from 50 to 30 pupils for new schools.

She pointed out that in a recent survey 82% of parents in Northern Ireland said they would like to have their children educated in integrated schools.

She added: “That speaks volumes about the future and really says that people want peace.

“Ninety per cent of children are still educated in segregated schools. This isn’t conducive to countering the widespread suspicion and prejudice which exists between the two communities.”

Asked whether the current peace talks would bring about a short term return to devolved government Mrs Mowlam said she had confidence in the process.

“I believe it will work. It may take a generation to work completely and that’s why integrated education is crucial but everybody’s interest is in moving it forward now and I hope they do.”

Alan Dalton, principal of Armagh Integrated College which opened in a building shared by Queen’s University in September, described today as very special.

He said: “It is a continuation of the story and the history of integrated education and thanks to the parents of Armagh who saw it as something that would be useful and valuable.”

Mr Dalton said he hoped that the school would move to a new Greenfield site next year and would grow to become a significant part of education provision in Armagh.

The college is one of seven new integrated schools which opened in September representing the biggest annual increase for the integrated sector in its 23-year history.

There are now just over 17,000 children currently in integrated education in the North.

Baroness May Blood, the campaign chairman of the fundraising committee of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education described today’s official opening as historic.

“We use the word historic so many times in Northern Ireland around the peace process but this really is an historic occasion this morning.

"Here we have the historic city of Armagh with an integrated college and the parents and teachers here have to be congratulated. This college will go from strength to strength.”