SEELB to close two schools

The SEELB has today announced the closure of east Belfast high school and a primary school in County Down.

The decision to close Groomsport Primary School and Lisnasharragh High School - which soccer legend George Best attended - was made by the four commissioners appointed to run the South Eastern Education Board (SEELB) when the original board failed to approve cutbacks on special needs. Lisnasharragh is expected to close in 2008.

The commissioners refused to comment on the future of two other schools also facing possible closure, which are Conlig and Hilden primary schools.

East Belfast Alliance MLA, Naomi Long, has slammed SEELB Commissioners for their decision to close the high school.

She said: "It is disgraceful that the Commissioners have decided to close Lisnasharragh High School. I am very disappointment that consultation on the closure was not taken into account by the Commissioners when they made this decision.

"The total tack of information provided on this matter was appalling. This decision will have an extremely detrimental impact on the Lisnasharragh area.”

She continued: "Alliance will continue to lobby the Education Minister and the board to try to prevent the closure of the school."

Alliance Party Councillor for the Lisnasharragh area, Michael Long added: "The SEELB Commissioners have let local people down twice in the past few weeks. First they decided to slash library opening times and now they have decided to close Lisnasharragh High School."

"45% of pupils at Lisnasharragh High School have special educational needs, this is one and a half times the average figure for East Belfast school pupils. 45% of pupils at Lisnasharragh are entitled to free school meals, this is also one and a half times the average for children in East Belfast.

"These figures show that the school provides a vital service for one of the most socially and economically deprived areas of East Belfast. These figures also show that the school has successfully mainstreamed many pupils that would otherwise have been in special educational needs schools. Ensuring that these pupils are in mainstream education has helped develop their learning and life skills greatly, and these skills will be of massive benefit to them when they leave school.”

He concluded: "It is abundantly clear that these undemocratic and unaccountable Commissioners are here merely to rubber stamp ridiculous cuts at the SEELB."

East Belfast UUP MLA Michael Copeland also condemned the Commissioners decision.

In a statement Mr Copeland said: “I have reason to believe that the Commissioners appointed to discharge the duties of the suspended SEELB have decided to proceed with the closure of Lisnasharragh High school, a decision that fills me with anger and regret.

“These Commissioners have replaced democratically elected members who refused to enact departmental policy which is based on finance and finance alone.

“I appealed to the Commissioners not to base their decision on a process of conclusions that were resident with the original board, but to go back to square one and assess the worth of this school in more than purely monetary terms.”

He continued: “It appears they have confirmed our worst fears and have become nothing more than lackeys for a direct rule administration that exists without fear of future retribution at the ballot box.

The sooner Direct Rule Ministers responsible for driving decisions such as this go back to where they belong the better.”

(EF)