Frazer commends retention of Carnlough Integrated School

6.45.00pm GMT Tue 31st Jan 2006

Newtownabbey Deputy Mayor Lynn Frazer has commended parents for their hard work in ensuring Carnlough Integrated School remained in the village. This follows the North Eastern Education and Library Board's decision this morning that the school should remain at its current site.

The Alliance Party Councillor stated: "I know that campaigners put on a great presentation that persuaded the Board of the case for the school to remain where it is.

"The school is an outstanding example of the social and educational integration that constitutes my party's vision for the future of Northern Ireland. Parents have had to show great commitment to ensure the school remained, and if that commitment is reflected elsewhere, the future of integrated education is bright.

"It remains cause for concern that campaigners have had to work so hard to support a policy which should be central to Government strategy here. My party will continue not just to back parents of children in integrated schools, but also to back the case that integrated education should be the default option. People simply should not have to go so far out of the way to do the right thing."

ENDS