Latest releases
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- Schools and funding
40 releases
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Pupils can hide their “gender” from parents in NI schools
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on the Education Authority to withdraw and revise its "Supporting Transgender Young People" guidance, claiming it lets schools withhold pupils' gender transitioning from parents. He also says pronoun options in the SIMS school records system should be removed.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority "Supporting Transgender Young People" guidance and SIMS pronoun option Original release: Pupils can hide their “gender” from parents in NI schools (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of budget for school crossing patrol at Holy Rosary Primary School highlights need for restoration of Executive, says Alliance representatives
Alliance South Belfast MLAs Kate Nicholl and Paula Bradshaw say the lack of budget to recruit a school crossing patrol at Holy Rosary Primary School, after the Education Authority confirmed a recruitment pause continues, shows the Executive must be restored, and they call on the DUP to rejoin…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Education Authority school crossing patrol recruitment pause continues Original release: Lack of budget for school crossing patrol at Holy Rosary Primary School highlights need for restoration of Executive, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Egan calls for review of home to school transport across Northern Ireland
Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan, North Down MLA, calls for the Department of Education to restart its paused review of home to school transport, arguing current policy is not fit for purpose and that parents are still waiting for change four years after consultation began.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department of Education pause of home to school transport review Original release: Egan calls for review of home to school transport across Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Backwards move to bring abortion into classrooms – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the Westminster vote on NIO proposals to bring abortion-promoting relationships and sex education into schools is a backward step for Northern Ireland. She argues the region's abortion laws should not be taught to children and calls for more life-affirming laws.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Westminster vote on NIO proposals for RSE in schools Original release: Backwards move to bring abortion into classrooms – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Egan welcomes updated relationship and sexuality education curriculum
Alliance MLA Connie Egan welcomes the Secretary of State's confirmation that he will update the relationship and sexuality education curriculum in Northern Ireland, saying it is overdue given a legal duty to comply with UN CEDAW recommendations on adolescent sexual health.
Education Disability and equality Issue: NIO decision to add abortion access to RSE teaching Original release: Egan welcomes updated relationship and sexuality education curriculum (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Building delays will hold schools back
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan warns that the pause in work on 28 post-primary school building projects across the North could hold back development plans for years. He says the Department of Education has offered no timetable for resuming the work and pledges to press a future…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department of Education pause on 28 post-primary school builds Original release: McCrossan: Building delays will hold schools back (opens in a new tab)
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An evidence-based RSE curriculum is what is best for our children and young people, says Egan
Alliance education spokesperson and North Down MLA Connie Egan calls for a standardised, inclusive, evidence-based RSE curriculum in schools, following an ETI report finding almost half of Northern Ireland schools teach little or nothing on consent, LGBTQ+ issues and related topics. She says she…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education and Training Inspectorate report on relationship and sexuality education Original release: An evidence-based RSE curriculum is what is best for our children and young people, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Harry’s Law must be introduced to end seclusion in schools, urges Egan
Alliance Education Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes the Department of Health's regional policy limiting restrictive practices in health and social care, and calls for legislation banning seclusion in schools. She says interim Department of Education guidance is not enough and backs 'Harry's…
Education Health Issue: Department of Health regional policy on restrictive practices in health and social care Original release: Harry’s Law must be introduced to end seclusion in schools, urges Egan (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: New research confirms academic selection not delivering for all young people
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says new Stranmillis College research shows academic selection is not working for young people, arguing that scrapping the transfer test alone would not fix problems and calling for a wider cultural change and investment in education reform.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Stranmillis College research on transfer test cancellation and grammar school intake Original release: McCrossan: New research confirms academic selection not delivering for all young people (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding
DUP Education spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Independent Review of Education panel was told Education budgets are underfunded, citing real-terms cuts of around £150 million and calling for Education to be treated as 'mission critical'. She also highlights rising Special Educational Needs…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Independent Review of Education panel meeting on school funding Original release: Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding (opens in a new tab)
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Lollipop men and women face the axe under EA plans – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls the Education Authority's freeze on recruiting School Crossing Patrol staff, including temporary cover, 'madness', warning it will increase safety risks at schools. She says she has urged the EA to rethink, and that MLA Diane Dodds will raise it again at a meeting.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Education Authority freeze on School Crossing Patrol recruitment Original release: Lollipop men and women face the axe under EA plans – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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“Education Cuts Endangering the Lives of Children” - Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader and Bann DEA representative Gemma Brolly demands unity against education cuts, calling for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State over reduced funding and the non-replacement of crossing patrol staff at St Columba's Primary School, Ballerin.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Education Authority recruitment halt and crossing patrol cuts Original release: “Education Cuts Endangering the Lives of Children” - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan
Alliance Education Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says a meeting with Northern Ireland Office officials on Relationship and Sexuality Education was positive and urges the Secretary of State to implement CEDAW-based RSE as a priority. She cites a Belfast Youth Forum study finding 73% of young people…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Office meeting on Relationship and Sexuality Education Original release: Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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TUV raises neglect of Markethill High in capital programme
TUV spokesperson Keith Ratcliff says Markethill High School, built in 1959 for 200 pupils, now has 503 on roll and eight mobile classrooms, and calls for a replacement. He says TUV has written to the Education Department's senior civil servant over its absence from the capital programme and…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Markethill High School overcrowding and capital programme replacement Original release: TUV raises neglect of Markethill High in capital programme (opens in a new tab)
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Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler, who speaks on education for the party, condemns proposed £110m cuts to Department of Education services as unconscionable. He warns they would hit vulnerable children and non-statutory services, and calls on the Secretary of State to reverse the cuts while Stormont…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £110m Department of Education budget cuts Original release: Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Conference 2022 - Education Minister Michelle McIlveen
DUP Education Minister Michelle McIlveen MLA, addressing the 2022 DUP Conference, says the party kept schools open during Covid and lists its education record, including a new post-primary school building programme, Nurture Units, Healthy Happy Minds counselling and the School Age Act.
Education Public finance and taxation Original release: Conference 2022 - Education Minister Michelle McIlveen (opens in a new tab)
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O'Lynn seeks Education Authority meeting after more pupils left without transport
Alliance North Antrim MLA Patricia O’Lynn seeks a meeting with the Education Authority after pupils at Castle Tower Special School and Mary Queen of Peace Primary School were left without transport, calling for clarification and a reliable contingency plan and urging DUP Education Minister Michelle
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Primary school transport failures at Castle Tower and Mary Queen of Peace Original release: O'Lynn seeks Education Authority meeting after more pupils left without transport (opens in a new tab)
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Parents deserve answers from Education Authority on school transport issue, says O’Lynn
Alliance North Antrim MLA Patricia O'Lynn calls for an urgent review of school transport by the Education Authority after Mary Queen of Peace Primary School in Glenravel was left without a bus driver, with over 40 parents affected.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Mary Queen of Peace Primary School Glenravel transport disruption Original release: Parents deserve answers from Education Authority on school transport issue, says O’Lynn (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan welcomes plan to increase Irish medium schools
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes Education Authority plans to expand Irish-medium post-primary provision across the north, citing rising enrolments. He calls on the EA to deliver the plan and secure new first-class facilities for Irish-language pupils.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority Irish-medium post-primary expansion plan Original release: Sheehan welcomes plan to increase Irish medium schools (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Schools need answers over plans for new buildings
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan backs a call from the Construction Professionals' Council of Northern Ireland for Education Minister Michelle McIlveen to publish a timetable after delays to 28 new school buildings. He says the Minister must clarify the position for schools and contractors…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: CPCNI call over delays to 28 new school buildings Original release: McCrossan: Schools need answers over plans for new buildings (opens in a new tab)