Education crisis must not be sidelined

Basil McCrea MLA Ulster Unionist Party Spokesperson for Education has claimed that there is a mounting crisis within the Department of Education that can no longer be ignored or sidelined by policing and justice negotiations.

Speaking after a debate in the Assembly on ensuring provision for new school builds across the schools estate, Mr. McCrea said:

"Let me make it clear - across the board Education in Northern Ireland is in a mess. The debacle of post-primary transfer and the continuing failure to progress the Education and Skills Authority are well publicized.

"However, we are now facing another crisis - a growing black hole in the Department's capital budget. This crisis will likely lead to no new schools being built across Northern Ireland in the next financial year - the situation thereafter is largely unknown.

"Last year the Department spent £250 million but this year has only £30 million in the pot. This money will be used for statutory maintenance, for which there is already a back-log of £240 million," the Lagan Valley MLA said.

"But whilst the Executive is facing a fiscal crisis we should not assume that the proposed cuts in the Department of Education's capital budget were inevitable".

"There is no doubt that the Education system is need of rationalisation. There are schools that should amalgamate and there are efficiencies that must be made. There is a need for significant improvement in our planning and procurement processes. Yet in nearly three years of devolution the Minister has failed to make the necessary changes to bring about these money saving initiatives".

"The Ulster Unionist Party would have no problem in supporting an ESA that is based on improving and streamlining the education system. However, the Minister for Education by attempting to introduce a monolithic QUANGO, that will stifle our education system and centralise power with the Minister, has missed this excellent opportunity".

"The Minister for Finance and Personnel in proposing cuts of £22million in the Department of Education's capital budget did so knowing the existing problems surrounding school builds".

"The built environment within which our children study is crucial to their educational experience and their ability to learn. Schools should be inspiring places that children and teachers can flourish within. The Strategic Investment Plan recognised this fact by stating that our future economic and societal well-being depends on the development of the schools estate"

This has unfortunately not been recognized by the Minister for Education or the Minister for Finance and Personnel.