Progress reports provided by five participating school principals gave a flavour of the achievements of the Fermanagh Trust Shared Education Programme in its first year.

Representing the primary and post primary sector, they shared their experiences last Thursday afternoon as an independent report - reviewing the first year of the FTSEP - was launched at the Lough Erne Resort Hotel in Enniskillen.

The positive impact the ground-breaking pilot initiative has had on almost 1,900 participating pupils and 50 schools throughout Fermanagh since its outset in September 2009 was discussed by a number of speakers.

And with almost 104,000 hours of shared education having taken place during the first year, the overriding finding of the report was that the FTSEP had resulted in a significant level of cross-community contact between schools and pupils in Fermanagh.

Cross-border contact was delivered in some of the partnerships with the Programme including three schools from the Republic of Ireland.

98% of participating primary school teachers and pupils felt that the Programme resulted in greater opportunities for inter-sector sharing and collaboration. 100% of participating post-primary pupils felt that the Programme helped to reduce fear, suspicion and mistrust of the other community - in fact 62% felt this was either fully or mostly achieved.

Through the FTSEP, schools have benefited from delivering curriculum-based courses including history, science, literacy, art and drama in a shared setting. Music has proven to be an effective catalyst in forging linkages, with one partnership producing a joint CD and another partnership of two primary schools in one village establishing a joint brass band. At Thursday’s launch, musical entertainment was provided by a group of 12 young musicians from Tempo Primary School and St. Mary’s Tempo, conducted by Simon O’Hare of the Western Education Board’s Music Service.

Pupils also enjoyed gaining skills in sports not commonly taught in their respective communities - e.g. Gaelic football, rugby and cricket. The sixth form enrichment programme has fostered extensive and regular cross-community contact between over 200 pupils on a weekly basis in practical subjects such as photography, guitar, self-defence, first aid and cooking on a budget.

Mr. Lauri McCusker, of Fermanagh Trust, highlighted the importance of the stories from the schools - leading into a snapshot from the primary and post primary sectors being provided.

Focusing on three of the FTSEP partnerships - a primary school cross-community partnership, a cross-border partnership and a post primary school partnership, the participating principals addressed the widely attended gathering - which included representatives of education throughout Fermanagh and other organisations supporting the shared education project.

Alan Williamson of Tempo Controlled Primary School and Fergal McCann of St. Mary’s PS, Tempo referred to the difference that the project has made in their school environment and to the wider community. They decided to create a permanent reminder in the form of a sculpture - something to celebrate the differences and highlight the similarities.

The children really enjoyed the experience and they reached their goal of having two sculptures in their respective schools.

Ita Jordan, Principal of St. Mary’s Primary School, Teemore and Beryl Trenier of the Fairgreen National School in Belturbet, Co. Cavan, regarded it as a wonderful opportunity to share through shared education and they acknowledged the funders.

Their projects included in term one drama and music, culminating in a widely attended showcase production; in term two, art and craft - the end product being two murals reflecting the children’s own ideas; and in term three they engaged in a variety of sports.

The benefits in the post primary education partnerships were highlighted by Mr. Mervyn Walker of Devenish College, one of a number of schools operating a post primary programme.

He feels the Programme has been very successful so far - thanks to the commitment of principals and other school staff.

The FTSEP has been made possible through funding of £2.1m by the International Fund for Ireland and The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Denis Rooney, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland said both “consider shared education to be integral to advancing peace building and reconciliation”.

He believes the success of the FTSEP’s “first year in helping to develop positive working relationships between schools across both traditions is truly impressive - particularly in the context that many of these schools are located in areas that have long-term community tensions and division”.

Joanna McVey, Chairperson of The Fermanagh Trust, who felt it was terrific to to see such a huge turn-out on Thursday (demonstrating the ongoing interest in the Programme), said the Trust is delighted with the positive response from schools, parents and children from across Fermanagh and beyond, with so many people embracing the Programme and making shared education an integral part of their learning.

“The review of the first year of the Programme has highlighted excellent feedback from all of the participating schools and the Trustees and staff look forward to building on this work in the future,” said Joanna McVey.