A BILL designed to enhance good relations and improve attitudes of children towards peers of different backgrounds has been given the green light by the assembly.
The Shared Education Bill passed its final stage in the assembly on Tuesday.
It provides a legislative definition of shared education as involving those of different religious belief, including "reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Catholic children" and those who are experiencing socio-economic deprivation.
Government focus in recent years has moved away from promoting integrated education in favour of shared models, although in recent months some schools have been given approval to transform to integrated status.
Typically, shared education involves neighbouring Catholic and non-Catholic schools working together. Integrated schools educate Catholic and Protestant children under one roof.
Welcoming the assembly's endorsement of the bill, education minister John O'Dowd said shared education "is an integral feature of our future education system".
"Shared education provides the opportunity for young people to learn about each other from each other. It can raise standards, helping to increase self-confidence, self-awareness and self-reflection as well as improving skills in problem solving, decision making and critical and creative thinking," he said.
"The bill, underpinned by my Sharing Works policy, protects parental choice, builds on our curriculum and the suite of educational policies, and provides a legislative framework for delivery of shared educational services."
