Frank Carson launches his new scheme for integrated education
Thursday, 4 September 2008
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Northern Ireland comedy legend Frank Carson has launched a £100,000 bursary scheme for pupils at integrated schools.
The Carson Bursaries for Integrated Education will provide 10 bursaries of up to £1,000 each for students to use their creative talents to demonstrate what integration means to them.
Funding for the annual bursary scheme has been provided by Frank’s son and business entrepreneur Tony Carson and will be available through the Integrated Education Fund, the charitable foundation which supports the growth and development of integrated education.
Frank Carson said: “It is important we celebrate the impact integrated education is having on the lives of young people.
“What better way to do that than through the creative talents of the young students themselves.
“After all it is they who are experiencing this special opportunity that so few of us from Northern Ireland have ever had. I can’t wait to see the submissions and then judge the final pieces.”
Tony Carson said: “I have no doubt about the range of creative talents in young people in schools. The bursaries aim to support such creativity and contribute to what is such an important issue for Northern Ireland.
“Dad and I are committed to integrated education. Our experiences of separate schooling only served to delay the day we made friends with people from other traditions. We both feel we were deprived of the richness integration brings. We are all different, so let’s celebrate that.”
The bursaries are open to all sixth form integrated college students in Northern Ireland. Application packs are available to download at www.ief.org.uk.
Applications must be submitted by October 24, 2008, and all work must be carried out between January 1 and April 30, 2009. A showcase event, hosted by Frank Carson, is planned for 2009, which will feature completed projects.
Tony, who lives in London, recently co-wrote a book entitled ‘Integrated to Accumulate’ which looked at the social and economic gains that can be made from creating a more integrated society in Northern Ireland.
As of September 2007, there were 62 integrated schools across the province, 20 post-primary and 42 primaries, educating over 19,000 pupils. Over 750 pupils were turned away in September 2007 from integrated schools because there were not enough places to satisfy parental demand.
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I must comment on Mr Blairs post. i am a catholic girl who was brought through the education system only to meet from a protestant faith when i went on work experience at the age of 16! thats what has happened to most girls my age, especially living in middle class environment. im not sure what era you have come through yourself but i choose to say that its just seems like a double hit and churches and catholics. i would say that if people stopped bikering around supporting for this reason or another at least they are sir. I will be sending my children to an integrated school, if i am ever blessed with a family. Have you ever read through any integrated news? or a shared future? i am also still maintaining my catholic faith- working class are more segregated by stats - just because people are silent and dont talk about this doesnt mean its not happening within their homes or comunities. the education system needs integrated education, i wish i had the choice.
Posted by kelly | 23.09.08, 09:16 GMT
This is no Carson joke! BT readers should take note that the most vociferous proponents of "integrated schools" come from a Catholic background. Frank Carson & Son, Barry McGuigan, Liam Neeson etc. or are celebrities dropped in from outside Northern Ireland. It is interesting that all are critical of their own faith schooling in creating separation but have been unsucessful in convincing the Catholic Church to move from its entrenched position.
The integrated school movement is the most obvious and unnecessary duplication of the N.I. education system. At a time of economic downturn £100,000 could be better spent on teaching primary school pupils how to read and write.
Posted by M Blair | 08.09.08, 16:17 GMT
Maybe Frank and Son should spend their time and money on getting the Catholic Church to encourage integration in education. There is plenty of opportunity for the church and family to indoctrinate on religious matters without the State paying for schools to do the same. The entire "integrated schools" sector is simply a middle class avoidance of the local secondary school. Paying for free transportation to integrated schools is a waste of public money. Take that away and watch how quickly the affinity for integration melts away.
Posted by Pro Tanto Quid | 08.09.08, 08:38 GMT
I THINK THAT FRANK CARSON WILL HAVE TO PUT DOWN AS HE SIMPLY WILL NOT LIE DOWN. I ONLY SAW HIM PERFORM ONCE IN A PANTOMINE IN THE OPERA HOUSE BELFAST, BUT I WISH THAT I'D SEEN HIM MORE. HE'S A MAN WITH A GOOD HEART AND I WISH HIM SUCCESS IN THIS PROJECT.
Posted by FELIX | 05.09.08, 01:47 GMT
Wonderful, it's so refreshing to see people reflect on their educational experience and the harm this apartheid caused them
Posted by Sandra | 04.09.08, 22:04 GMT
Well done Frank! Northern Ireland(and the rest of the World) need people like you. Religion,and race have separated us for far too long.
Posted by RMS | 04.09.08, 20:06 GMT
Politicians and civil servants take note that the joke isn't on you in your failure to make integration at the heart of government policy. Equal but Separate is not an option. Well done Frank
Posted by Sam | 04.09.08, 13:25 GMT
Frank, you're a cracker! and a very funny hero at that. If Northern Ireland's other great celebs could do the same we could make strident steps toward breaking down the barriers that are still obvious within this wee country.
Posted by Petesy | 04.09.08, 10:42 GMT