21/01/2016

Amendment Aims To Remove Teacher Exemption From Fair Employment Regulations

A new amendment to the Shared Education Bill would lead to the repeal of the teacher exemption to fair employment regulation in Northern Ireland.

Proposing the amendment Ulster Unionist Party education spokesperson, Sandra Overend, said: "Many people will find it amazing that in 2016, it is still perfectly legal to recruit teachers on the basis of their religion. Under Article 71 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (NI) 1998, it is not unlawful for the employers of school teachers to discriminate on the grounds of religious belief or political opinion in relation to the recruitment of persons as teachers in schools. What sort of message does this send out about fairness, equality and a shared future?

"The Ulster Unionist Party has put forward motions and asked questions on this issue consistently throughout the current Assembly's mandate. However, neither the Department of Education nor OFMDFM have taken responsibility; instead we have had years of inaction. Therefore, we have tabled a new clause to the Shared Education Bill, which we hope will be accepted and supported by the whole Assembly."

(MH/LM)

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