Protestants made up just 22% of tech enrolments

THE North West Regional College (NWRC) had the lowest number (3,572) and percentage (22 per cent) of Protestant students of any further education college in Northern Ireland in 2009/10.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Dec 2011, 14:27 BST

Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry revealed 76 per cent (12,564) of students at NWRC were Catholic during that academic year.

Two per cent of students (350) were listed as having an “other” or “no religion.”

A total of 3,755 students’ religious backgrounds were listed as “not stated” or “not known” and were excluded by the Department from the percentage calculations.

By comparison the Northern Ireland average percentages for Protestant and Catholic enrolments were 41 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.

The figures were taken from the Further Educational Statistical Record.

Dr Farry advised: “It should be noted that a sizeable proportion of those enrolling with FE colleges in Northern Ireland do not disclose their community background.”