SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter has said Minister Paul Givan must detail his plans to reform the education system.

He has announced plans to make remaining in some of education or training compulsory until the age of 18 as part of his response to the Independent Review of Education.

Ms Hunter said the Minister’s statement failed to address many of the issues raised in the review.

East Derry MLA Ms Hunter said:

“Proposals to allow young people to remain in school or training until the age of 18 should be welcomed, but there is a need to ensure that these plans will directly benefit young people in terms of allowing them to develop the necessary skills to develop and equip them to pursue their chosen careers. There should also be greater focus on apprenticeships and further education courses and encouragement for young people to consider this route.

“Despite this there was scant mention of many of the other recommendations in the review. We have a crisis around special educational needs (SEN), including education for those aged 19+, but the Minister only offered warm words today and no concrete proposals. There was also not a single mention of integrated education, Irish medium schools or how the Minister intends to address issues around relationship and sexuality education (RSE) or spiralling childcare costs.

“There was also little in the way of plans to support children living in poverty or suffering poor mental health. We have seen holiday hunger payments and the happy healthy minds scheme axed at a time when the Irish Government is introducing free school meals for everyone. There are also huge financial pressures on schools themselves, with many operating heavily in the red.

“The Minister must come before the Education Committee and properly address our concerns. He has indicated he may not appear again until next year and that is simply not good enough given the massive pressures facing our education system.”