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Fane Street Primary School merger 'racist attacks risk' Fane Street Primary School merger 'racist attacks risk'
(35 minutes later)
Parents and children attending a south Belfast school could become the victims of racist attacks if their classes are moved to another location, according to the Council for Ethnic Minorities.Parents and children attending a south Belfast school could become the victims of racist attacks if their classes are moved to another location, according to the Council for Ethnic Minorities.
The children attend Fane Street Primary School, off the Lisburn Road, where 64% of pupils are from immigrant families.The children attend Fane Street Primary School, off the Lisburn Road, where 64% of pupils are from immigrant families.
They come from 22 countries, and one third of the pupils are Muslims.They come from 22 countries, and one third of the pupils are Muslims.
The Education Authority is examining ways to amalgamate the school with two others in south Belfast.The Education Authority is examining ways to amalgamate the school with two others in south Belfast.
It is looking at merging with Blythefield in Sandy Row and Donegall Road primary schools.It is looking at merging with Blythefield in Sandy Row and Donegall Road primary schools.
Empty placesEmpty places
According to the Education Authority (EA), a merger is necessary because there are about 800 empty places between the three schools.According to the Education Authority (EA), a merger is necessary because there are about 800 empty places between the three schools.
In its submission on the proposed changes, the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) said the merger "would present a high security risk of racist attacks against ethnic minority and Muslim families" if parents have to pass the Village area to get to a new proposed school close to or at the Donegall Road or Sandy Row areas. In its submission on the proposed changes, the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) said the merger "would present a high security risk of racist attacks against ethnic minority and Muslim families" if parents have to pass the Village area to get to a proposed new school close to or at the Donegall Road or Sandy Row areas.
Its head Patrick Yu said he was concerned that the EA had not carried out a risk assessment before proposing the possible amalgamation.Its head Patrick Yu said he was concerned that the EA had not carried out a risk assessment before proposing the possible amalgamation.
"The ethnic minority and Muslim families would need to walk to the (new) school... down the Donegall Road, through the Village to the new school in the future," he said."The ethnic minority and Muslim families would need to walk to the (new) school... down the Donegall Road, through the Village to the new school in the future," he said.
"This also means they will have a high risk of racist attack and racial harassment on the way to and from (the new proposed) school.""This also means they will have a high risk of racist attack and racial harassment on the way to and from (the new proposed) school."
Referring to loyalist protests at a Catholic primary school in north Belfast in 2001, Mr Yu added: "We do not want to see another 'Holy Cross' number two to happen in that area."Referring to loyalist protests at a Catholic primary school in north Belfast in 2001, Mr Yu added: "We do not want to see another 'Holy Cross' number two to happen in that area."
NICEM says the basis for its concern is police figures on racist attacks, which show the levels in south Belfast are the highest in Northern Ireland.NICEM says the basis for its concern is police figures on racist attacks, which show the levels in south Belfast are the highest in Northern Ireland.
Within south Belfast, the Village, Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas have the worst record for racist attacks, Mr Yu said.Within south Belfast, the Village, Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas have the worst record for racist attacks, Mr Yu said.
He said: "NICEM feels that the best option would be to close Blythefield Primary School and allow pupils to join either of the remaining two schools on Donegall Road and Fane Street."He said: "NICEM feels that the best option would be to close Blythefield Primary School and allow pupils to join either of the remaining two schools on Donegall Road and Fane Street."
'Scandalous''Scandalous'
Former Belfast City Councillor Bob Stoker dismissed the claims by NICEM.Former Belfast City Councillor Bob Stoker dismissed the claims by NICEM.
He said many of the pupils who attended Fane Street already lived in the Village area.He said many of the pupils who attended Fane Street already lived in the Village area.
"It's absolutely scandalous that people are making claims of racism as an excuse to oppose constructing a new school," he said."It's absolutely scandalous that people are making claims of racism as an excuse to oppose constructing a new school," he said.
"There have been no racist attacks on the foreign pupils who are already attending Blythefield and Donegall Road. There have been no problems there whatsoever.""There have been no racist attacks on the foreign pupils who are already attending Blythefield and Donegall Road. There have been no problems there whatsoever."
Mr Stoker said the preferred option was one new-build school at the rear of Belfast City Hospital in what was a car park.
He said a lot of people's fears were based on "misinformation" and he felt it was "despicable" to "demonise" a whole community.
Declan Boyle, SDLP, said it was important to work hard to change perceptions about racism in the Village.
There have been racist attacks, he said, but the blanket condemnation of a whole area is "ugly and hard to remove".
"If there is going to be one school, risk assessments have to be taken into consideration," Mr Boyle said.
"We want to address this and make sure children can go to school. So we must address this fear and this perception of fear."
So far, no decision has been taken by the EA as to what format the merger might take.So far, no decision has been taken by the EA as to what format the merger might take.
Options being explored include building a new school campus for the three schools or possibly amalgamating three sites into two.Options being explored include building a new school campus for the three schools or possibly amalgamating three sites into two.
In a statement, the Department of Education said: "Each development proposal is considered in the context of its own unique circumstances." A spokesperson for the EA said it was "sensitive to the diverse needs and issues faced by newcomer children".
"Every reasonable step will be made to be responsive to the needs of newcomer children and their families so that they have the opportunity to maximise their potential and enjoy their educational experience," the spokesperson said.