Paul Givan, the former Stormont Education Minister, has been legally vindicated for his decision by the Courts. He turned down the application for integrated status by Bangor Academy and Rathmore Primary School. Mr Justice McAlinden handed down the judgment at the High Court in Belfast. He rejected the allegations that Givan breached steps required by legislation in overseeing the start of the ambitious proposed shake-up.
The challenge was brought in the name of students at both schools, who proposed becoming fully integrated institutions. The judge ruled that Givan had the authority to deny their application. At that time, he had doubts about the practicality of attaining an equal enrollment of Protestant and Catholic pupils.
Givan had already articulated these concerns, focusing on the demand, or really the lack thereof, for integrated education among the local communities.
“There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that such a demand (for integrated education) exists within the local Catholic community,” – a legal representative.
This judgement expands the Education Minister’s powers even further. Now, the Minister has a non-political decision to make that best represents the demographic realities of their region. The court’s decision clarified that Givan acted within his rights when he expressed reservations about the schools’ plans to pursue integration, primarily due to the challenges associated with attracting a diverse student body.
Her class action suit has fired up fierce debate on the merits of integrated education in Northern Ireland. Moreover, this remains a sensitive and complex issue given the region’s historical divides. To achieve compliant, integrated status, schools need to demonstrate a robust structure for inclusivity while being desirable to their respective communities. Givan countered that Bangor Academy and Rathmore Primary School do not have this capacity now.
