23/06/2022
This is exactly what we have been saying since the consultation period started. That the Education Authority is not in touch with reality and the day to day workings of any school. The way they have treated the principal, staff, children, parents & extended community of Ballougry Primary School is atrocious and our school is not the only one that has been treated this way. Certain areas of the education authority do work to a certain degree but the most important area, the area that should be at the forefront of every decision made in my opinion is the area that is lacking the most and that is our children, their education and their future. This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency to stop more of our children from suffering not only at our school Ballougry but every single school that the Education Authority makes decisions for.
Over two years ago, I stated that the Education Authority (EA) was not 'fit for purpose'.
Today a damning report into the EA has been published. It is making 13 recommendations and I'm asking the Education Minister as SDLP Education Spokesperson to introduce the recommendations as soon as possible.
This report confirms concerns I and many other have around the EA
It clearly is not fit for purpose, it does not adequately address the needs of pupils in our schools and has been very slow in adapting to the needs of our modern education system and has failed to carry out the role it was created to do effectively, with confusion existing, even internally, around what exactly that role is.
While I accept that some progress has been made in addressing issues over the last few years, the review acknowledges that this has come from a very low base.
The Education Minister has acknowledged the failings of the EA, but she needs to back up her words with action and move to implement all 13 recommendations contained within this review.
To address the long list of issues currently impacting the EA we need to see a proper timescale for action put in place and a costed plan of how the recommendations contained within the review will be implemented.
Minister McIlveen must also outline whether work can begin to reform the EA while her party continues their boycott of our institutions.
Behind this stark review are pupils across the North who are being failed, who are not getting the education they deserve and who are not living up to their full potential as a result of the failings within the EA and our education system.
There can be no excuse for not addressing these issues and providing every single pupil with the best education possible.
A copy of the full report can be found at
fil:///C:/Users/CO_Admin/Downloads/DE.%20Education%20Authority%20Landscape%20Review%20June%202022.pdf
