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Schools open despite funding snub Schools open despite funding snub
(about 3 hours later)
Two proposed integrated schools which were turned down for funding are opening with financial help from the Integrated Education Fund.Two proposed integrated schools which were turned down for funding are opening with financial help from the Integrated Education Fund.
It is believed Rowallane Integrated College, situated on the old Belvoir hospital site in south Belfast, received £500,000 from the fund.It is believed Rowallane Integrated College, situated on the old Belvoir hospital site in south Belfast, received £500,000 from the fund.
Clogher Valley Primary School was given £250,000.Clogher Valley Primary School was given £250,000.
The schools are opening despite the Department of Education's decision to refuse them funding earlier this year.The schools are opening despite the Department of Education's decision to refuse them funding earlier this year.
Two other integrated schools were also refused funding by the education minister at the time, Angela Smith.Two other integrated schools were also refused funding by the education minister at the time, Angela Smith.
Ms Smith said the new schools were turned down because they were proposed for areas which already had surplus capacity.Ms Smith said the new schools were turned down because they were proposed for areas which already had surplus capacity.
'Not easy''Not easy'
Baroness May Blood from the IEF said the decision to fund the new schools was "not an easy one".Baroness May Blood from the IEF said the decision to fund the new schools was "not an easy one".
"The decision was made by both boards of governors from the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, our sister organisation, and the IEF, but I have to tell you it was not an easy decision," she said."The decision was made by both boards of governors from the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, our sister organisation, and the IEF, but I have to tell you it was not an easy decision," she said.
"We were furious with the government because these schools had met the criteria that the government had set down and then we had to go out and find another £1m to support two of these schools for the next year.""We were furious with the government because these schools had met the criteria that the government had set down and then we had to go out and find another £1m to support two of these schools for the next year."
Integrated education has been promoted as a way to break down Northern Ireland's sectarian divisions.Integrated education has been promoted as a way to break down Northern Ireland's sectarian divisions.
The Integrated Education Fund is a charity established in 1992 to promote the development and growth of integrated education in Northern Ireland.The Integrated Education Fund is a charity established in 1992 to promote the development and growth of integrated education in Northern Ireland.
The first integrated school in Northern Ireland was Lagan College which opened near Belfast in 1981 and there are now 61 integrated schools with more than 18,500 pupils on the roll books.The first integrated school in Northern Ireland was Lagan College which opened near Belfast in 1981 and there are now 61 integrated schools with more than 18,500 pupils on the roll books.
Five per cent of children in Northern Ireland attend integrated schools.