Education in Northern Ireland: A House Divided

Abstract

Historical, religious, political and cultural differences between people of mainly native Irish Roman Catholic and numerically larger (in total) Protestant Churches are reflected in two separate education systems in Northern Ireland since Partition (1922). Unsuccessful attempts by the Westminster Government from 1944 to implement parallel policies and structures are shown to be unsuccessful, for example, to introduce comprehensive education in the 1960s. From thirty years of civil unrest prior to the Belfast Agreement (1998), however, progress is demonstrated by local individuals and groups in the form of structural and curricular change, using education as a means to improve community relations. Stalemate in the devolved parliament at Stormont since early 2017 is seen likely to continue indefinitely and to have an adverse effect on provision of education and other public services.