3rd Annual Religious Peace Conference

international | miscellaneous | event notice Sunday May 20, 2007 10:10 by Sheikh Prof. Shaheed Satardien - Interfaith Roundtable

Faith, Education and Integration

Learning to fit in

The Inter-Faith Roundtable &
Saor-Ollscoil Na hEireann
(The Free University of Ireland)

Present

3rd Annual Religious Peace Conference

St. Brigid’s Community Centre, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
9 June 2007

Integration & Education – learning to fit in
Schedule

8.30-9.30 am Registration and Refreshments

9.30-11.00am Opening Plenary Session 1, Chair: Prof. Chris Morris
Opening Prayer: Friar Dan Joe O’Mahony
Welcome: Father John Jones P.P.
Introduction: Sheikh Prof. Shaheed Satardien
Opening address: H.E. Priscilla Jana, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa
Community intro: Rev. Andrew Orr / Rev. Elaine Dunne

Integration and schools – the genesis of cultural inclusion
1. Dr. Raymond Topley - St.Patrick’s College
2. Har Preet Singh - Irish Sikh Council
3. Dr. Andrew Pierce - Theologian, Lecturer Irish School of Ecumenics
4. Mohammad Al-Kabour – Secretary General of the Supreme Muslim
Council of Ireland

Open Floor Discussion, enabler Jenny Cuypers

11.00-11.30am Refreshment Break

11.30am-1.00pm Session 2, Chair: Dr. Sean English

5. Dr. Joseph Obosho – Political Scientist
6. Chinedu Onyejelem – Editor, Metro Eireann Newspaper
7. John Lynch, Principal, Huntstown Secondary School
8. Gerry Gregg Film Maker and journalist
9. Sudansh Verma – Spokesperson for the Hindu community
Minute of silence for Alan Jonstone BBC journalist
Announcement of Visionary of Peace 2007 award winner
Open floor discussion – enabler Thomas Molloy
***
1.00-2.00pm Lunch
***

2.00-3.30pm Session 3 Chair: Sheikh Prof. Shaheed Satardien

10. Dr. Jasbir Singh Puri - Spokesperson for the Sikh community
11. Paddy Malone - Saor Ollscoil World Cultures student
12. Dr. Josephine O’Brien - Consultant and writer
12. Dr. Mícheál Mac Gréil SJ Sociologist, Author, Lecturer,
13. Michael Kelly Sub editor Irish Catholic newspaper

Open floor discussion – enabler Janine Van Rooij

3.45 - 4.00pm Closing Remarks

Registration Fee: €25 (payable on the day), inclusive of refreshments.

Topics for consideration:
1. Integration and schools – the creation of models of inclusion
2. Education and cultural tolerance – teaching models
3. Defining the extent of integration necessary for social cohesion and the role schools may have in this.
4. Starting them young – immersing the immigrant children
5. Studying differences, similarities and sameness – the 3 Rs of integration
6. The history of integrated education in Ireland and abroad- lessons for the new Irish.
7. Religious schools – an obstacle to, or vehicle for, integration
8. Competing cultures – a balance of values: the role of the teacher as facilitator to engagement.
9. Adult education for migrants – teaching an old dog new tricks.
10. Government policy on integrated education
11. The future – Dystopia or Utopia in the inter-cultural classroom.