| Abstract: | The outbreak of violence in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s led to critical examination of the possible role of the denominationally divided education system in creating and sustaining community division. Since the early 1970s there have been a number of attempts to bring children from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds together. These have followed two major tracks, either the establishment of programmes which can operate within the denominationally segregated system (Education for Mutual Understanding) or the setting up of new integrated schools. Both approaches have moved though a number of phases but by the late 1980s both had become linked to official government policy. During the last 5 years the interaction of educational initiatives and political developments has led to considerable controversy and the resulting problems have created an uncertain future for both Education for Mutual Understanding and the planned integrated schools movement. |
