The UK government is working on plans to promote integrated education in Northern Ireland.
Secretary of State Brandon Lewis said the programme will "promote the benefits of integrated education" and "support schools considering the transformation process".
In a speech outlining the plans, he said: "It is clear there is a demand for integrated education which is not being met by the current provision of education in NI.
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"That is why I have been considering my options as Secretary of State, and can confirm today that the UK government will shortly set out a programme to support greater integration through education in Northern Ireland.
"This programme will help promote the benefits of integrated education to parents, teachers and pupils, and support schools considering the transformation process."
An Alliance MLA who recently secured laws to promote integrated education welcomed the plans, but said that Stormont embracing the sector locally is the "only sustainable way forward".
Kellie Armstrong said: "All support for integrated education is welcome, particularly given how much it has been lacking to date.
"However, the only sustainable way forward for integrated education is for the Department of Education to embrace and promote it locally, supporting the majority of parents who wish to see their child educated in a formalised integrated setting."
In March, a private members' bill brought by Ms Armstrong was passed by MLAs to require Stormont's education department to give more support to integrated education.
A DUP move to block the legislation using a petition of concern failed as it did not gain enough support. The party had argued the law would force Stormont to "prioritise one sector over all others".
The Education Minister, the DUP's Michelle McIlveen, has been approached for comment on the UK government plans.
Northern Ireland currently has no fully functioning Stormont Executive in place as the DUP has refused to re-enter power-sharing in protest over Brexit's Protocol.
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan described the British government stepping into the integrated education issue as "entirely cynical and self-serving".
The West Belfast MLA said the Integrated Education Bill passed in March "is the vehicle that should be used" to support the sector.
He said Mr Lewis's "time would be better spent pressing the DUP and his Tory colleagues to respect the democratic vote of the people here and working to get the institutions back up and running".
The Secretary of State was speaking on Wednesday at a conference jointly hosted by Wilton Park, the UK government's Northern Ireland Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The three-day event aims to "explore the conditions needed for Northern Ireland to really thrive and shape a prosperous and vibrant future".
The plans on integrated education could see the UK government face further accusations of encroaching on devolved matters, as education in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of Stormont.
Last year, then Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon accused the British government of a "clear attempt to undermine devolution" over plans to open a Belfast office for a Whitehall department.
The government at the time dismissed the claim, saying it was "fully committed to devolution".
On the integrated education plans, a UK government spokeswoman said: "The government's priority is to see a fully functioning devolved government in NI, to deliver on priorities like integration in education.
"The government further recognises the vital importance of integrated education, which the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement states is essential to reconciliation and the promotion of a culture of tolerance at every level of society.
"As co-signatory of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, the UK Government has a role to play in supporting reconciliation, integration and a peaceful society in Northern Ireland."
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