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CCMS launches Welcome Pack for Ethnic families

CCMS launches Welcome Pack for Ethnic families

Friday, June 15, 2007

The diversity within Catholic Maintained schools has been highlighted today with the launch of a new ‘Welcome Pack’ for ethnic minorities from the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).

The Council has produced the ‘Welcome Pack’ to help the growing ethnic population to access current information on educational opportunities available to their children within the Catholic Maintained schools sector.

The new ‘Welcome Pack’ is recognition by the Council of richness of diversity, culture and language that ethnic communities bring to Catholic Schools and the significant contribution which they make in enriching the fabric of our pluralist society in Northern Ireland.

The publication was formally launched at the Lagan Island Centre in Lisburn. In attendance were representatives from the education sector, ethnic community groups, and representatives from the American, Lithuanian, Portuguese, and Filipino consulates.

They were addressed by the Archbishop of Ireland, Most Reverend Sean Brady and the Minister for Education, Caitriona Ruane MLA and Chief Executive of CCMS, Mr Donal Flanagan.

Speaking after the launch, Mr Donal Flanagan, said;

Today’s launch is a recognition that society in Northern Ireland is becoming more culturally diverse with an increasing number of people from other countries and cultures coming to live here.

This enriches the cultural context in which people are living but also presents a challenge for schools and society in general, to be aware of diversity and to have the structures, policies and practices in place to ensure that the needs of all children and adults are met. This is the challenge of inclusiveness. It is a challenge which Catholic schools will continue to meet.

Archbishop Sean Brady, primate of all Ireland said:  

‘The challenge for all of us who have witnessed decades of conflict and social unrest must be to create a more inclusive society where the promotion of reconciliation and respect for diversity becomes a priority for all particularly within our schools’.

CCMS new publication is available by clicking here

 

‘ENDS’


For further information please contact

Paul O’Connor

Communications Officer

Telephone     028 9039 3891

Email             pauloconnor@ccmsschools.com

 

Notes to Editors

 

 

  • In recent years the number of children in nursery, primary and post-primary schools in N. Ireland who have English as an additional language has risen gradually. In the last two years alone the number has risen from 2679 in 2005/06 to 3741 in 2006/07. Most of these children attend primary schools.
  • In 2006/07, £834,000 of EAL earmarked funding was allocated by the Department of Education to the five Education and Library Boards on a per capita basis. £2.5 million was allocated through the Common Funding Formula for schools which equated to £912 per EAL pupil. In addition £100,000 was allocated through the Children & Young People’s Package to set up a centralised Interpretation & Translation Service. In total, £3.4 million was allocated in 2006/07 for English as an Additional Language.
  • 37% of the total number of EAL pupils in nursery, primary and post-primary schools in N.Ireland in 2006/07 attend Catholic Maintained schools.
  • The greatest concentration of EAL pupils in Catholic schools is in the Down & Connor Diocese (464) followed by Armagh (424), Dromore (218), and Derry (149) and Clogher (72).
  • Outside of Belfast, the pupils appear to be concentrated in areas such as Dungannon, Craigavon, Portadown and Newry.
  • For ease of calculation, 11 nationality/ethnic groups were identified In terms of number of EAL pupils in excess of 100, the largest groups were Polish (364), Lithuanian (212), Portuguese (118) and those with a background perceived as Asian (334).

 

 

 

About CCMS

  • The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools [CCMS] is the advocate for the Catholic Maintained schools sector in Northern Ireland.
  • Established under the auspices of 1989 Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order, the Council’s primary purpose is the provision of an upper tier of management for the Catholic Maintained Sector with the primary objective of raising standards in Catholic Maintained Schools.
  • CCMS represents trustees, schools and governors on issues such as raising and maintaining standards, the school estate and teacher employment.
  • CCMS is the largest employer of teachers in Northern Ireland [8500 teachers]. 
  • CCMS plays a central role in supporting teachers whether through its welfare service or for example in working parties such as the Independent Inquiry into Teacher Pay and Conditions of Service.
  • CCMS supports trustees in the provision of school buildings and governors and principals in the effective management and control of schools.
  • CCMS also has a wider role within the Northern Ireland Education sector and contributes with Education partners to policy on a wide range of issues such as curriculum review, selection, pre-school education, pastoral care and leadership.