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Bradley: Post-primary reform must be properly resourced

SDLP Education Spokesperson Dominic Bradley MLA has said that the proposals by the Catholic Commission on post-primary reform must be properly resourced and managed carefully over a time frame which gives schools the opportunity to prepare for change.

Fri 19th March

The Newry and Armagh MLA said: 'Some of the options proposed for certain areas will be fairly painless to implement but will  have cost implications which require large scale capital investment in new builds and extensions to schools but it is not clear from whence the resources needed will come. 
 
'At this particular time with the Department of Education in severe budgetary problems, which will remain for the foreseeable future, it is difficult to see in the short to medium term where the resources are to finance the changes outlined. 
 
'In other geographical areas the proposals imply the closure of schools which have served their communities well over many generations and people will think long and hard before agreeing to the closure of local schools. 
 
'Teachers too will be anxious about what the future holds for them as the closure of schools may well lead to job losses in the profession.
 
'All schools must be given the opportunity to work on a level playing field and parents will want and expect their children to have access to school buildings and facilities which are fit for the 21st century. 
 
“Families which have a tradition of attending particular schools will be loath to end long standing connections.
 
'The SDLP want to see pupils in all areas given access to top class teaching and learning facilities - in some cases that entails capital investment to provide the necessary improvements in the schools estate. 
 
‘It is also important that the teaching skills sets which have been built up in the various schools are respected and preserved in any new context.
 
 
'Presently the Commission's plan has no indicative time frames attached to them; schools and communities will want to know the time scales involved and the various steps in the process leading to change - this has not been clearly indicated to date. 
 
‘Traditionally the provision of new school buildings has been a long drawn out process which can in some cases take over ten years to complete and this coupled with the lack of finance may make reform a long drawn out affair.
 
 
'But we must remember that the Commission's proposals cannot be considered to be a fait accompli and I would encourage all those interested in education to read the plans carefully and to express their views to the Commission through the consultation process.’

Dominic Bradley

Dominic Bradley MLA

Email dominicobrolchain@btinternet.com
Tel 028 3026 7933

Press Office

Tel 028 90 42 1837

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