Church and political leaders in Northern Ireland had a vested interest in preventing children of different religions being educated together, former Northern Ireland secretary Ms Mo Mowlam said yesterday.
Ms Mowlam, who was officially opening the new integrated college in Armagh City, said the growth of integrated education was a crucial step in ensuring the success of the peace process.
She said political parties and churches had been an obstacle to achieving more integrated schools.
"Although the churches and political parties paid lip service to integrated education, they are not that keen to move further down the road, because without integrated education they have a ready-made church population in church schools and the parties have ready-made party supporters in the schools, too.
"I think it is really important that integrated education is there to stop these vested interests getting their way." Ms Mowlam said that while the integrated movement did not enjoy the full support of the political and religious establishments, she hoped the situation was beginning to change.
"I think as the movement grows they will begin to see the advantages. I just pointed out historically when I came to Northern Ireland I did see vested interests. I see less of it now when I talk to them, and I think it's all moving along the path to peace and that's a plus."
Ms Mowlam, who left her post as Northern Ireland secretary in October 1999, called on the British government to lower the minimum funding requirement from 50 to 30 pupils for new schools.
She pointed out that in a recent survey, 82 per cent of parents in Northern Ireland said they would like to have their children educated in integrated schools.
She added: "That speaks volumes about the future and really says that people want peace. Ninety per cent of children are still educated in segregated schools. This isn't conducive to countering the widespread suspicion and prejudice which exists between the two communities."
Asked whether the current peace talks would bring about a short-term return to devolved government, Ms Mowlam said she had confidence in the process.
"I believe it will work. It may take a generation to work completely and that's why integrated education is crucial, but everybody's interest is in moving it forward now and I hope they do."
Mr Alan Dalton, principal of Armagh Integrated College, which opened in a building shared by Queen's University in September, said he hoped the school would move to a new greenfield site next year.
The college is one of seven new integrated schools which opened in September, representing the biggest annual increase for the integrated sector.
There are now just over 17,000 children in integrated education in Northern Ireland.