An update from Northern Ireland

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An update from Northern Ireland
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(No Transcript)
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1921 1969
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Since 1969 more than 3600 people have been killed
as part of the Troubles in Northern Ireland
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The Good Friday Agreement - 10 April 1998
The tragedies of the past have left a deep and
profoundly regrettable legacy of suffering. We
must never forget those who have died or been
injured, and their families. But we can best
honour them through a fresh start, in which we
firmly dedicate ourselves to the achievement of
reconciliation, tolerance, and mutual trust, and
to the protection and vindication of the human
rights of all.
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The Good Friday Agreement 1998

• Legislative Assembly
• Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
• Equality Commission
• Parades Commission

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Divided and increasingly Diverse

racial harassment is a significant part of life
for many minority ethnic people living in
Northern Ireland. 44 have experienced verbal
abuse29 have experienced criminal damage to
propertyone in ten physically assaulted
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• Education for Mutual Understanding Evaluation
  (Smith and Robinson 1996)

• human rights
• political literacy
• controversial issues

Towards a culture of Tolerance Education for
Diversity (DENI, 1999)
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Young People and the Conflict

• alienated from political parties
• and politicians, but not from politics.
• 79 expressed the desire to
• learn about politics in school
• explore controversial issues
• but need the knowledge and skills to do so
• only 1/3 had specific classes
• which addressed such issues as sectarianism

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Citizenship in the Northern Ireland Curriculum

• Curriculum Review
• A Values-based Curriculum
• We value equality, justice and human rights
  within our society and our capacity as citizens
  to resolve conflict by democratic means. (CCEA,
  2000)

• Citizenship - an entitlement for all

KS2
KS1
KS3
KS4
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Citizenship Key Concepts

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Human Rights and Social Responsibility
• Equality and Social Justice
• Democracy and Active Participation

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The Nature of the Curriculum

• Driven by questions not answers
• Flexible
• Entitlement framework

Reality
A Better World
Action
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What has worked

• Extensive pre-service and in-service training of
  teachers
• Professional development courses (MSc modules at
  QUB and UU)
• Enthusiasm of teachers and pupils
• Whole school culture/community links
• Production of support materials and resources

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Challenges for Citizenship Education

• Devolution - Citizens of where?
• Credibility
• Sustainability

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Challenges Wider NI Context

• Changing nature of the political context in
  Northern Ireland
• Continued segregation and division
• Citizenship a panacea?

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Our Message

• It takes time, no quick fixes!
• Education can not do everything!

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Hopes for the Future

• History says, Dont hope
• On this side of the grave.
• But then, once in a lifetime
• The longed-for tidal wave
• Of justice can rise up,
• And hope and history rhyme.
• So hope for a great sea-change
• On the far side of revenge.
• Believe that a further shore
• Is reachable from here.
• Believe in miracles
• And cures and healing wells.

From The Cure of Troy By Seamus Heaney 1990