AQW 28887/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 18/06/2025
Answered On Date: 01/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to outline any consideration he has given to incorporating education on sectarianism in History and Citizenship lessons.

Answer:

The current Northern Ireland Curriculum provides opportunities for young people to explore diversity, identity, and community in meaningful, age-appropriate ways through the statutory Areas of Learning of Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU) and Learning for Life and Work (LLW).

The Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum was published on 3 June 2025 and provides a compelling case for comprehensive curriculum reform. The report makes 21 recommendations and sets out the need for a new curriculum framework that is purpose-led; knowledge-rich; continuous and coherent; specific and focussed; and flexible and inclusive. The Review recommends the rebranding and designing of LLW, as well as the need for a new Citizenship, Employability and Personal Development Programme.

I have announced my intention to establish a Curriculum Taskforce to lead the design and development of a new curriculum framework that embodies the principles outlined in the Review and meets the evolving needs of learners across Northern Ireland. The Taskforce will be operational in Autumn 2025.