Munich Personal RePEc Archive The Contribution of "Shared Education" to Catholic-Protestant Reconciliation in Northern Ireland: A Third Way? Borooah, Vani and Knox, Colin University of Ulster 2012 Online at https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/75673/ MPRA Paper No. 75673, posted 21 Dec 2016 17:16 UTC The Contribution of "Shared Education" to Catholic-Protestant Reconciliation in Northern Ireland: A Third Way? Vani K. Borooah and Colin Knox University of Ulster Published in British Educational Research Journal Contact details: Vani K Borooah Colin Knox School of Economics School of Criminology, Politics and Social Policy University of Ulster University of Ulster Shore Road Shore Road Jordanstown Jordanstown Northern Ireland Northern Ireland BT 37 OQB BT 37 OQB Email:
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[email protected] Tel: +44 (0)28 90366934 Telephone: +44 (0)28 90366667 January 2012 Acknowledgements: The authors kindly acknowledge the inputs to this research from Shared Education Project staff, teachers and participating pupils. Any errors remain are the sole responsibility of the authors. The Contribution of "Shared Education" to Catholic-Protestant Reconciliation in Northern Ireland: A Third Way? Abstract Northern Ireland has achieved political stability and its devolved government is now tackling public policy issues neglected during periods of sectarian violence. Notwithstanding the prevailing political optimism, one legacy of the conflict is a deeply divided society. This is particularly manifest in the education system where around 90% of children attend either state (Controlled) schools (de facto Protestant) or Catholic (Maintained) schools, with integrated schools accounting for less than 6% of the school population.