Dillon Registe from Moy Regional Primary School and Erin Duffy from St John’s Primary School, Moy are pictured at the launch of the Primary Curriculum Partnership Programme (PCPP) with from left: John Unsworth, Assistant Senior Education Officer for SELB; Alison Thompson, Project Manager for the Primary Curriculum Partnership Programme and John Carson, International Fund for Ireland.

A new cross-community schools programme which is focused on partnering primary schools from both sides of the community was launched today at St John’s Primary School, Moy by John Carson of the International Fund for Ireland.

The Primary Curriculum Partnership Programme (PCPP) is a three year initiative managed by the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) and funded by the International Fund for Ireland under its Sharing in Education Programme, with financial assistance of £474,552.

The Programme will bring together primary schools from the same town, but different sides of the community, to work in partnership to enhance the delivery of the Personal Development and Mutual Understanding curriculum in these schools. Over the next three years 20 primary schools, 2,800 children and 300 teaching and non-teaching staff will take part in the programme, across Craigavon and Banbridge, Newry, Armagh and Dungannon.

Speaking at the launch, John Carson, International Fund for Ireland, said: “The Fund is pleased to be supporting this initiative which is a practical demonstration of the Fund’s strategy of promoting peace and reconciliation by enhancing community relations, and promoting reconciliation and sharing.

“We are committed to supporting and facilitating projects that provide opportunities for both teachers and pupils from different community backgrounds to come together to discuss similarities and differences and to celebrate diversity.  The Primary Curriculum Partnership Programme forms part of our Sharing in Education Programme which is integral to the International Fund for Ireland’s strategy to facilitate more sharing and to promote reconciliation and non-sectarianism in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.”

Alison Thompson, Project Manager for the Primary Curriculum Partnership Programme said: “This Programme will enable us to enhance the delivery of Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU) in primary schools by bringing teachers from different backgrounds together to share expertise and ideas. As part of the Programme these teachers will benefit from  training and a specific support structure to enable them to deliver the more challenging aspects of PDMU including developing respect for other traditions and religions, similarities and differences, conflict resolution, reconciliation and learning to live as members of a community.

“Alongside this will be a broad range of shared classroom based activities that will support children in developing the skills and personal capabilities needed to deal with the challenges of living in an increasingly diverse and complex society.”

As part of the Programme a number of principals and teachers have already taken part in initial training days.

Christina Dickson, Acting Principal from Dromore Road, Primary School, Warrenpoint, said:  “The training days have been an excellent start to the Programme and produced many thought provoking discussions. It was great to have the opportunity to share experiences and begin the process of working with other schools on these very important issues.”

John Unsworth, the Assistant Senior Education Officer for the SELB, said: “The Programme will support primary schools involved in addressing these challenging issues and will provide teachers with expertise to enable them to feel competent and confident in dealing with this part of the curriculum. The Programme will provide many opportunities for children and teachers from different backgrounds to work and learn together.  We are delighted to be leading this initiative, working in partnership with the International Fund for Ireland and schools.”

“By participating in this Programme, all members of the school community will develop a greater understanding of their own identity and also a better appreciation of other identities and traditions.  The shared experiences and opportunities provided will support children and their teachers in contributing to the building of a shared future.”

12 schools are involved in the first year of the Primary Curriculum Partnership Programme (PCPP) and include:

• Moy Regional Primary School which has been partnered with St.John’s Primary School, Moy;
• Presentation Primary School, Portadown which has been partnered with Hart Memorial Primary School, Portadown;
• Dromore Road Primary School, Warrenpoint which has been partnered with St. Bronagh’s Primary School, Rostrevor;
• Fivemiletown Primary School which has been partnered with St.Mary’s Primary School, Fivemiletown;
• Blessed Patrick O’Loughran Primary School which has been partnered with Walker Memorial Primary School, Castlecaufield; and
• Aughnacloy Primary School which has been partnered with St. Mary’s Primary School, Aughnacloy.

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