AQW 5033/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 20/10/2022
Answered On Date: 19/02/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education why recommendations 5, 18, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, and 39 of the Independent Review of Integrated Education have not been approved and actioned by her Department.

Revised Answer:

Many of these recommendations relate to work that is already undertaken in some form. For example, the Association of Principals and Teachers in Integrated Schools – APTIS – is an established cross-phase association that meets regularly. Additionally, the Education and Training Inspectorate self-evaluation framework for schools is not intended to be sector specific. And, when its views were sought in 2020 by the then Minister, the Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) advised it did not consider the kitemark to be the most effective means of celebrating integrated success. Fresh Start capital funding has specific and set parameters and the funding has been fully committed for some time.

Having considered the report, and in this context, the Minister concluded that these recommendations should not be specifically actioned.