Peter Robinson called the Northern Ireland education system “a benign form of apartheid” The First Minister has described the Northern Ireland education system as a “benign form of apartheid”.
In a speech on Friday, Peter Robinson said the current system, where Catholics and Protestants are usually educated separately, must change.
He said that he wanted to set up a commission to look at the total integration of the different sectors.
He compared the system to South Africa during apartheid where black and white children were educated separately.
BBC NI education correspondent Maggie Taggart said the speech was likely to provoke controversy.
In an apparent reference to Catholic schools, he said he had no objection to church schools but he did object to the state paying for them.
“It may take ten years or longer to address this problem, which dates back many decades, but the real crime would be to accept the status quo for the sake of a quiet life,” he said.
“The benefits of such a system are not merely financial but could play a transformative role in changing society in Northern Ireland.”
He added that there were a number of “knotty issues” such as “religious education, school assembly devotions and the curriculum”.
“Future generations will not thank us if we fail to address this issue,” the DUP leader said.
It would be difficult to dislodge “vested interests”, he said, but was “convinced” that it should be done.
Our correspondent said that the DUP position has been that the state – or controlled – sector was non-denominational and could be used by those of all religions and none.
She added that Mr Robinson was proposing a single education system, rather than enlarging the integrated system which he did not believe would create the critical mass needed to make a real difference.
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