Northern Ireland Education Authority Bill Wins Support

The establishment of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) has moved a step closer with the second stage of the Education Bill receiving Assembly support.

Although hundreds of jobs will be lost in the Northern Ireland education sector as a result of the merger of the existing five area boards, the move has been welcomed by the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, pictured.

Speaking after an Assembly debate on the Bill, she said: "This is an important stage in my programme of reforms for education.

"The establishment of the Education and Skills Authority on 1 January 2010 will see the most fundamental reform of our education system in a generation.

"Reform that is urgently needed if we are to ensure equality and raise standards in education for all children and young people.

"Education is a public service that has the potential to shape and guide the development and life chances of our young people; to build strong cohesive communities and to drive and fuel our economy," she said.

"I welcome the support this Bill received in the Assembly. Members recognise the need to streamline the administration of education and direct additional funding to schools," the Minister continued.

"This Bill establishes ESA with the core functions of planning, supporting and challenging education.

"ESA will be the employer of around 50,000 staff," she said, emphasising that the establishment of the ESA has the potential to redirect around £20million each year to frontline services.

"This will be achieved through the reduction of around 460 posts and I am confident that these can be achieved through voluntary redundancy and early retirement.

"Indeed, more than half these posts are currently vacant across the education bodies and these are being managed in line with an agreed vacancy control policy.

"If redirected to frontline services, this £20 million has the potential to build three new primary schools and one new post primary school every year; or cover the cost of 700 new teachers every year or cover the cost of the youth services capital building programme four times over," she insisted yesterday.

See: Jobs Hit In Education Board Merger

(BMcC)