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20/11/2018
NI's Education System In Need Of Review
The recent news that almost half of Northern Ireland's schools are in debt has served to amplify the need for an urgent review of the entire education system, Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has said.
He was speaking after figures released by the Education Authority showed that 446 schools out of 1,000 analysed for the current academic year are in the red. Out of these, 352 have seen their deficits increase since 2017.
The party's spokesperson for education recommended a similar style of review to the 2016 Bengoa Report. Led by international expert Professor Rafael Bengoa, it was carried out by a Government-appointed panel and made a series of suggestions to help make the health service suitable for current demand.
"Alliance has been vocal for some time now about the need for a complete root and branch reform of the entire education system," the MLA for east Belfast said.
"We have been inundated with messages from parents, teachers and principals, all concerned about the growing pressures being put on our children's education by factors including increasing financial strain on schools."
Mr Lyttle added that such a review is necessary to outline a plan for subsequent reform, if the financial crisis on Northern Ireland's schools is to be halted.
"This news impacts everyone in our society and due to the lack of an Executive to put a strategic plan in place, it is likely to get worse. We need to deliver the reform necessary to ensure our education system becomes structured and resourced enough to give all our young people the education they deserve."
(JG/CM)
He was speaking after figures released by the Education Authority showed that 446 schools out of 1,000 analysed for the current academic year are in the red. Out of these, 352 have seen their deficits increase since 2017.
The party's spokesperson for education recommended a similar style of review to the 2016 Bengoa Report. Led by international expert Professor Rafael Bengoa, it was carried out by a Government-appointed panel and made a series of suggestions to help make the health service suitable for current demand.
"Alliance has been vocal for some time now about the need for a complete root and branch reform of the entire education system," the MLA for east Belfast said.
"We have been inundated with messages from parents, teachers and principals, all concerned about the growing pressures being put on our children's education by factors including increasing financial strain on schools."
Mr Lyttle added that such a review is necessary to outline a plan for subsequent reform, if the financial crisis on Northern Ireland's schools is to be halted.
"This news impacts everyone in our society and due to the lack of an Executive to put a strategic plan in place, it is likely to get worse. We need to deliver the reform necessary to ensure our education system becomes structured and resourced enough to give all our young people the education they deserve."
(JG/CM)
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