Ulster Unionist Vice Chair of the Education Committee, Danny Kinahan MLA has called on Sinn Fein and the DUP to clarify their intentions on the Education Skills Authority.
The South Antrim MLA said:
“Unless the Education Minister expands on what exactly he intends to do regarding the Education Skills Authority, it will be clear that the statement in July by OFMdFM has only been another smoke and mirrors exercise to claim action where there is inaction and inertia. OFMdFM must stop bluffing the electorate andactually start delivering.’
“As my colleague on the Education Committee Jo-Anne Dobson MLA has previously stated, these delays over introducing the Education Skills Authority have been farcical with the Bill not coming forward before the end of July. No details have come forward just an announcement of an intention which we all already knew about. We were actually awaiting a proper briefing on the way forward for ESA.’
“It seems that the Sinn Fein/DUP partnership is still at loggerheads, but are aware of the clear criticism of inaction and indecision, and felt another empty statement of intentions would quell such appalling inactivity.’
“We had already had a statement in the last week of the summer session from their Junior Minister of all the legislation planned for next year, which really was a statement about everything they had not managed to plan for last year and this ESA statement is just more of the same – excuses.’
“The ESA is an incredibly important piece of the jigsaw of the future of education. This statement raises vital concerns as to how it will actually work. How will it maintain its local/rural/urban identities when it is just one body? How and who will be responsible for appointing teachers, deciding curriculum and giving teachers more say in their schools? To whom will the ESA answer and how will it be ensured that it remains independent of the department and of politicians? How will it be more efficient when it no longer has any comparable organisation to be judged against?’
“This all should be properly debated at Stormont, properly consulted upon and thoroughly scrutinised by the Education Committee. Such a bland announcement at the beginning of the summer recess raises profound questions. The Sinn Fein/DUP coalition must start delivering now.’