The head of the North’s Equality Commission says inequalities are magnified for young people coming from social and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Dr Michael Wardlow says identifying and highlighting these inequalities is only the first step. Such educational fault-lines must be followed by action, he emphasised.
A new report from the Equality Commission suggests inequality in education in Northern Ireland is getting worse.
It reveals that the proportions of Catholics achieving educational targets in GCSEs and A levels are persistently higher than Protestant peers.
Minority ethnic pupils generally are more likely to leave school with no GCSEs than White school-leavers.
Traveller and Roma children, who have some of the lowest attainment levels of all equality groups, encounter the most negative experiences.
Dr Wardlow says there is a responsibility on those who shape and manage the education system to focus on and overcome enduring barriers that continue to disadvantage the most vulnerable sections of society.
“We’ve known for a long time that while the education system in Northern Ireland works well for many of our young people; for too long, significant numbers of pupils have struggled to fulfil their potential as a result of that same system,” he said.
“The Equality Commission is eager to work with these groups to help ensure that our education system, which serves all our people, is robust and built on a stable and secure base.”
Justin McCamphill, NASUWT’s national official for Northern Ireland, warns that government ministers are storing up significant social, economic and cultural problems for the future.
He said that concerted action must now be taken to address the factors driving inequalities in education.
“The fear is that the current budget crisis in Northern Ireland will only result in deeper divisions and even more children being denied the opportunity to fulfil their potential,” he added.