Ep 21: Integrated education in Northern Ireland – interview with the Integrated Education Fund National Secular Society Podcast

In this episode, Emma Park speaks with Maddy Bridgman and Sam Fitzsimmons of the Integrated Education Fund, a charity that supports inclusive, integrated education (not segregated into de facto Protestant and Catholic schools) in Northern Ireland.



Maddy and Sam discuss the IEF’s campaign to support an integrated school system, and outline some of the difficulties the IEF has faced, both political, administrative and structural.



They also discuss positive signs that school students who attend integrated schools are benefiting from the tolerant and inclusive ethos that these schools promote.



Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/edrVKRsXwWo



Transcripts: https://www.secularism.org.uk/transcripts



Notes



Education in NI shouldn’t be a tug of war between religious interests



https://www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2019/10/education-in-ni-shouldnt-be-a-tug-of-war-between-religious-interests



Research reveals impact of religious discrimination on NI teachers



https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2019/05/research-reveals-impact-of-religious-discrimination-on-ni-teachers



NSS calls for school integration in NI amid religious polarisation



https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2018/04/nss-calls-for-school-integration-in-ni-amid-religious-polarisation



Integrated Education Fund



https://www.ief.org.uk



Integrate My School campaign



https://www.integratemyschool.com



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