The Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education, which comprises the Diocesan and Religious trustees of Catholic Schools, has called on the Minister for Education to clarify her vision for post primary education in the North of Ireland.

This was one of the messages conveyed at a unique conference on the future direction of Catholic Post Primary education organised this week by the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education.

The'Shaping the future together' conference was attended by Principals, Chairs of Governors and Trustees of Catholic Post Primary school in the North of Ireland. This is the first time that they have met collectively to discuss the post primary review of Catholic schools.

They were joined by representatives from the Department of Education, the Education Skills Authority and educational organisations.

The aim of the conference has been to enable delegates to have a better understanding of the process, the progress and the challenges ahead for the review of post primary Catholic Education. The gathering also offered an opportunity to review the process so far and to consider comments from the participants.

To date the Northern Ireland Education Commission for Catholic Education through its post primary review team has adopted a strategic, planned, coherent and collaborative approach across the Catholic Managed sector.

This has manifested itself in a number of live projects which has involved the collaboration of Catholic Grammar and Secondary schools in each Diocese.

The Commission believe that the project approach undertaken will enable the Catholic sector to adequately prepare for the new arrangements in education which will be required over the next five years.

Speaking after the Conference, Chair of the Commission, Bishop Donal McKeown said,

Today's conference underscores the commitment from the senior trustees to ensuring that the future of Catholic Post Primary Education is structured and planned. It is also recognition that any future must be premised on collaboration to ensure diversity of provision within the Catholic sector. However, this cannot be caricatured as an exercise in Catholic separatism. This process will enable the Catholic sector to engage actively with all our educational partners in creating a new, shared and pluralist society here.

ENDS

For further information please contact

Paul O'Connor
Communications Officer

Email pauloconnor@pprce.org

Notes to Editors

Post-Primary Review in Catholic Education

The Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education is comprised of Senior Trustees, Diocesan and Religious.

The members include; Bishop P Walsh, Bishop S.Hegarty, Bishop Donal McKeown.

The remaining members are Sister A.M McQuaid RSM, Sister P Rodgers PSC and Brother S Deignan FSC.

Mr Gerry Lundy has been appointed Programme Director.