Sir, – Regarding Newton Emerson's article on integrated education, what people in the South may not appreciate is that the curriculum and exam structures in Northern Ireland, from 11-plus to GCSE and A-level, are basically adapted English ones and that teaching materials are often copied and pasted from English sources with limited local relevance ("North needs new policy on integrated education", Opinion & Analysis, April 1st).
In our local Catholic primary school they read about the Tudors, the Victorians and Francis Drake but hear little about Ulster and Irish clans or the rich seams of Irish folklore.
They calculate journey times from textbooks which list train timetables from Crewe to Chester and Bristol rather than, for example, from Belfast to Derry or Dublin. And there can be no countenancing of teaching Irish as part of the primary curriculum, unless in a Gaelscoil.
Despite this, Catholic schools have often been the only place that a small element of Irish geography, history, language and culture which extends beyond the six counties was available.
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Outside the classroom, everyday media and culture in the North are saturated with British, or more specifically English, influence, across television and radio to print and social media, which rarely ventures beyond the Border.
It would be interesting to see how many children in the North, from whatever school, could, for example, name the Irish President and where he lives a few hours down the road in Dublin compared to those who could do the same for the Queen Elizabeth and her residence in London. Or who would know about the current Taoiseach and Coalition Government in Dáil Éireann compared to the prime minister and Westminster government.
Education authorities in Scotland have not simply adapted an English curriculum, exam structure or learning materials but have developed ones relevant to Scotland.
An overhaul of the North’s curriculums, exams and teaching materials to reflect the geography, natural environment, ecology, history, language and culture of where the children actually live on the island of Ireland has to be a key element in any truly integrated education. – Yours, etc,
DAMIEN BENNETT,
Belfast.