Parents

A survey of parental opinion on education was carried out between 1990-92. It sought parental views on education in general, cross community contact, curriculum changes and integrated education. The final report was submitted to the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights.

The results are shown on the following screens.

Opinions on education in general

Q1. When choosing a Primary School how important to you is high standards of education?

A1.

Q2. How important is it to you that parents have a say in the way the school is run?

A2.

Q3. If one of your children has passed (were to pass) the eleven plus would you send him or her to a grammar school or a secondary school?

A3.

Q4. How important is it for children to get a university education?

A4.

Perceptions concerning equal opportunity to progress into third level education

Q5. Do you think that Catholic and Protestant children have an equal opportunity to go to university?

A5.

Q6. As Q5, adding respondents religious affiliation.

A6.

Integrated education

Q7. Do you think it is important for Catholic and Protestant children to be educated together at primary school?

A7.

Q8. How likely is it that you will send your children to an integrated school?

A8.

Q9. As Q8, adding respondent's religious affiliation.

A9.

Q10. Is there an integrated school in your area?

A10.

School Location

While the Education and Library Boards recognise the parents' right to send their children to segregated schools they nevertheless expect children to attend the respective school which is most convenient.

Q11. How important is it to you that a school is in a convenient location?

A11.

Cross-community links & relations

Q12. Do you think that it is a good idea for children from Catholic and Protestant schools to meet and work together as part of school activities?

A12.

Q13. Do you think that education should be used to improve community relations?

A13.

Q14. As Q13, adding respondents' religious affiliation.

A14.

Q15. Do you know what EMU stands for?

A15.

'Bridge building' initiatives

EMU is meant to give all children in Northern Ireland the opportunity to learn about each other and to meet more often to do joint projects. It is now legally a compulsory part of the school curriculum.

Q16. Do you agree with the decision to make cross-community inter-school projects compulsory?

A16.

Q17. As Q16, adding respondents' religious affiliation.

A17.

Mixed Marriages

In a report called 'Breaking the Mould', it was claimed that parents who sent their children to integrated schools were quite often from mixed marriages.

It may be useful to consider the geographical percentage of mixed marriages in Northern Ireland.

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