US President Barack Obama says integrated education is “one of the most encouraging” developments in Northern Ireland.
Speaking to an audience of young people at a town-hall event in London on Saturday as part of his UK visit, Mr Obama also said he was pleased that “tribal mentalities” were being broken down in the north, after being asked a question by 21-year-old Cliona McCarney from Belfast.
“One of the most encouraging things in Northern Ireland is children starting to go to school together and having a sense that we’re all in this together, as opposed to it’s us against them,” he said.
“One of the things that’s most important is the very simple act of recognising the humanity of those on the other side of the argument,” he said. “Having empathy and a sense of connection with people who are not like you.” He added that it requires “forging a new identity that is about being from Northern Ireland as opposed to being unionist or Sinn Féin”.
On his visit to Belfast in 2013, the US president was criticised by Catholic Principals' Association (CPA) for remarks in his speech at the Waterfront Hall about “segregated” education in the north.
"If towns remain divided - if Catholics have their schools and buildings, and Protestants have theirs - if we can't see ourselves in one another, if fear or resentment are allowed to harden, that encourages division," he said.
The CPA said the use of the word "segregated" was "loaded, emotive and inaccurate", while the NI Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) backed Obama’s remarks and pointed to a poll that showed 83 per cent of people "believe integrated education is a vital part of creating a shared future in Northern Ireland".
At present, only around seven per cent of children in the north attend integrated schools.
Responding to Ms McCarney’s question, the US president urged the next generation of political leaders in Northern Ireland to forge a "new identity" and to decide the "country as a whole is more important than any particular faction or any particular flag".
"It is going to take some time, it will depend on leaders like you to make it happen," he added. No pressure, you are going to be fine, you are going to do it."
