Kennedy calls for major review of primary school funding

Danny Kennedy MLA, the Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, has demanded a major review of Primary School funding.

Commenting on the issue he said: "There is a growing and significant body of evidence that outlines the reason why it is vital that there is adequate and significant investment in the initial years of education. It is known that children develop most quickly in their formative years. Therefore, it is crucial that they gain a firm foundation in literacy, numeracy and academic skills."

"The Institute of Education in the University of London worked on the Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project, which found that children who attended a primary school that was identified as academically more effective had better outcomes at the age of 10 than those who attended less-effective primary schools."

"Additionally, children who attended effective primary schools showed reduced antisocial behaviour and an increased possibility of gaining a higher education. That has to be an important consideration in our society increasingly riddled with problems associated with gang culture, knife crime and anti-social behaviour."

"Why do we persist with a funding scheme that discriminates against primary-school pupils? Furthermore, the ratio of funding for primary-school children in Northern Ireland - in proportion to funding in secondary schools - is much lower than in the rest of the United Kingdom."

"In Northern Ireland, the funding for primary-school pupils stands at 66% of the funding for post-primary pupils. In monetary terms, that translates as £2,646 for each primary-school pupil, compared to £4,021 for each post-primary-school pupil. That compares to a differential of 78% in England, 71% in Scotland and 82% in Wales. To make matters worse, out of 29 countries, the UK has the twelfth lowest investment in primary education. That puts Northern Ireland at the bottom of the table once again - a position that must be addressed without delay."

"It is time this bottom of the table Minister stopped being a one-issue Minister, ignoring the popular will over selection, and started to address the real issue of under-funding in our primary schools."