A law requiring the Department of Education to give more support to integrated education was passed by assembly members in April 2022.

But the commitments contained in the new law led some schools, education bodies and church representatives to claim it would “elevate integrated schools” above other types of school.

About 70 out of more than 1,000 primary and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland are integrated schools.

They aim to mix pupils of different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and religious beliefs, including “reasonable” numbers of both Protestant and Roman Catholic children and young people.

The first integrated school in Northern Ireland, Lagan College, opened in 1981.

But while the numbers of integrated schools in Northern Ireland have grown in recent years, only about 8% of pupils attend formally integrated schools.

In a statement, the Alliance Party’s Connie Egan said that the minister needed to “set out his rationale for effectively blocking integrated education across north Down”.

“It is difficult to think of one, given the overwhelming public support for the moves among parents of pupils and also the wider local community,” she said.

The chair of Stormont’s education committee, Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, also said he was baffled by Givan’s decisions.

“I will be seeking answers from him in the assembly as a matter of urgency, as those who overwhelmingly voted to transform to integrated status will no doubt be asking serious questions about the minister’s judgement,” he said.