A REPORT published this week takes serious issue with the notion that schools in the North are playing a major role in promoting better relations between Protestants and Catholics.
The University of Ulster's Centre for the Study of Conflict says fewer than half of schools took part in the Department of Education's cross community contact scheme in 1994-95.
Only one pupil in nine met a person of the other religion on a planned basis just over 40,000 out of 350,000 schoolchildren. Fewer than one in five primary and one in 10 secondary pupils was involved.
There was limited evidence of the educational benefits of cross community work. Schools need a more strategic approach, concentrating on the aims and quality of what they do, say Mr Alan Smith and Mr Alan Robinson in Education for Mutual Understanding the initial statutory years.
There are also overriding concerns about the extent to which education for mutual understanding and cultural heritage are taught in the classroom, even though they have been compulsory on the curriculum for four years.
Few schools have moved beyond a minimalist approach to education for mutual understanding, which aims to promote self respect and respect for others and to improve relations between people of differing cultural traditions. On the positive side, the theme has helped create a language which allows people to express their support for cultural pluralism and political dialogue rather than sectarianism and political violence.
"The challenge now is whether such initiatives can help young people move beyond the `polite exchange' so that they engage with each other in meaningful discussion of controversial social, cultural, religious and political issues," the authors argue.
Teachers believe the education for mutual understanding is "too abstract and loose" and few have received training to ease their considerable anxiety about dealing with the strong emotions the theme can arouse among pupils.
Many fear discussions might provoke parental disapproval or get out of hand".
Yet, there is inadequate guidance and no coherent or agreed plan to provide training for teachers, governors or ancillary staff In fact, coverage of education for mutual understanding and cultural heritage which Mr Smith and Mr Robinson want merged into a single theme has been reduced in initial training courses.