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Shared Education Show Cased at Major Conference


Sep 29, 2011 - 3:54:31 PM

FERMANAGH’S SHARED EDUCATION PROGRAMME SHOWCASED AT MAJOR CONFERENCE

The Fermanagh Shared Education Programme, which has been running in the county for the last two years, was showcased at a major conference in Belfast on Wednesday, 28th September.

The Programme which is administered by The Fermanagh Trust is now in its third year and involves 3154 pupils. The majority of primary schools and all post primary schools in the county participate and some of this work was featured through presentations and displays.

The Sharing Education Learning Forum (SELF) conference was addressed by the Minister for Education, John O’Dowd and Lauri McCusker, Director of the Fermanagh Trust - while the principals of St. Mary’s Primary School, Tempo and Tempo Controlled Primary School gave presentations.

Other schools from the county displayed their work to the 150 delegates. These were

ü   St. John the Baptist, Roscor which works in partnership with Belleek Primary School and;

ü   St. Mary’s PS Newtownbulter and St. Joseph’s Primary School, Donagh, which work in partnership with Newtownbutler Controlled Primary School;

ü   Moat CPS, Lisnaskea, which works in partnership with St. Ronan’s Primary School, Lisnaskea

The delegates, who included members of the Education Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education, other senior officials from the Department of Education and many of the educational stakeholders in Northern Ireland, heard of the achievements of the Shared Education Programme in Fermanagh.

25 cross-community school partnerships now exist in the County - with the work that is happening in Tempo just one example of the excellent educational, community and reconciliation benefits brought about through participation in the programme.

The principals of St. Mary’s PS, Tempo, Fergal McCann and the acting Principal of Tempo CPS Alan Williamson spoke of the impact of the Programme within their schools, but also in the wider community. They said:

“Prior to 2009, children from both our schools had little contact with each other and disputes often arose on the way to and from school, Also, staff only occasionally met at away days or training days and despite the fact that the schools are located 500 metres from each other we rarely communicated.

“The difference now is exceptional. We see our schools as an extension of each other. The fact that the Shared Education Programme is curriculum-based means we can share teacher/staff expertise and skills, which promotes the transfer of learning.”

Lauri McCusker, Director of The Fermanagh Trust, which manages and administers the Shared Education Programme said:

“The Shared Education Programme in Fermanagh supports school improvement, helps develop community and community relations and breaks down barriers, fears and misperceptions within the school and wider community. The fact that the Programme was showcased at a major education conference is a tribute to those schools including the members of the Boards of Governors and parents who support the work; the delivery agents, namely the Principals and teachers; and the pupils who participate”.

For anyone interested in finding out further information on the Shared Education Programme please visit www.fermanaghtrust.org .

WWW.FERMANAGHTRUST.ORG