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11/05/2017
Serious Concerns Raised For Schools In NI
Serious concerns have been raised for schools in Northern Ireland following a letter from the Department of Education with instructions that they must avoid planning to go into budget deficits.
Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson, Rosemary Barton, said schools have been under serious financial pressure for a number of years and eventually this "bubble will burst"
She said: "Teachers have been on rolling strike action over pay, workload and conditions and the Education Authority (EA) is proposing the closure of a number of schools across Northern Ireland via the area planning process citing sustainability issues. Other money saving proposals have included cutting funding for home to school transport and advice to schools from the EA to reduce teacher numbers.
"My concern is not for the content of the letter itself which came from a finance official who was carrying out his duties. The truth is that there can be no change to the financial situation in our schools without political direction and a stable budget settlement at Stormont."
(CD)
Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson, Rosemary Barton, said schools have been under serious financial pressure for a number of years and eventually this "bubble will burst"
She said: "Teachers have been on rolling strike action over pay, workload and conditions and the Education Authority (EA) is proposing the closure of a number of schools across Northern Ireland via the area planning process citing sustainability issues. Other money saving proposals have included cutting funding for home to school transport and advice to schools from the EA to reduce teacher numbers.
"My concern is not for the content of the letter itself which came from a finance official who was carrying out his duties. The truth is that there can be no change to the financial situation in our schools without political direction and a stable budget settlement at Stormont."
(CD)
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