The first teaching aids specifically intended for dealing with sectarianism in the North have been produced.
The aids form part of a six-year research project by the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE) into "moving beyond sectarianism". The project focused on the roots, manifestations and consequences of sectarianism in Ireland as well as transforming that sectarianism.
The teaching aids come in two booklets, one for use with senior secondary school students and one for continuing and adult education.
The author of the latter, Mr Craig Sands, said the aim of the tools was primarily to give teachers and students a language to talk about sectarianism, as well as a framework for understanding its roots, and how to identify and deal with it.
One model used in the packs was "the pyramid of participation" in sectarianism, he said. This has the normal population at its base with psychotic killers at the apex. The pyramid illustrates that the sectarian attitudes of the population make possible the activities of the killers.
Mr Joe Topping, a church community worker from Lisburn, said he had found the methods useful in pilot schemes. He welcomed them, saying they would give the opportunity to erode "the cancer of sectarianism in our society".
Mr Terry Smyth, from the North's Department of Education, apologised for the absence of his Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, but said the tools would be invaluable.
Mr Smyth said sectarianism was "as prevalent in the golf club as in any inner-city pub" and it would only be through projects in schools and education that this would be changed. With the teaching aids, "an excellent start has been made and gives us an excellent hope for the future", he said.
The Rev Trevor Williams, the leader of the cross-community Corrymeela centre, said the need to combat sectarianism had never been more keenly felt. While there had been political progress, he said, Northern Ireland now faced another impasse.