To help schools in Northern Ireland who want to integrate, the UK government will provide nearly PS2m.
The Secretary of State Brandon Lewis announced the move in a conference speech but has since provided more details.
Schools that are already in operation can be formally integrated through a ballot of parents.
In recent years, integration has been achieved by a number of schools.
In June, Lewis spoke at a conference organized by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). He stated that integrated education is not being provided.
He stated that the government would encourage integrated education for parents, teachers, and students.
The umbrella bodies representing Catholic and Controlled schools were critical that they weren’t invited to the conference.
Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, CCMS and Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC), described their absences as “concerning and alarming”.
Now, Mr Lewis says that the UK government will give PS1.9m to both the Integrated Education Fund and the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education.
NICIE provides advice to schools and parents on the process of transformation. It will receive approximately PS1.4m over the next three-years.
The IEF will raise awareness about the benefits of integrated education and will receive an additional PS435,000 during the same period.
Liam Neeson, an actor, has supported the IEF in encouraging more schools to achieve integrated status.
Mr Lewis stated that he considers it an absolute priority to see more integration in education in Northern Ireland, when he made the announcement about the funding.
He stated, “My hope is for integration to soon become the norm rather than the exception in schools throughout Northern Ireland.”
Assembly members passed a new law in March that required the Department of Education to provide more support to integrated education.
However, some schools, educators bodies, and church representatives claimed that the law would “elevate integrated school” over other types.
