The Ulster Unionist Party’s North Antrim MLA Robin Swann has urged the DEL Minister Stephen Farry not to introduce even more uncertainty into local Teacher Training.       

 Mr Swann, the Chair of the Assembly Committee for Employment & Learning, said:

 “Today’s Statement by the Minister for Employment & Learning raises a number of key issues with regard to Teacher Training. The quality of our teachers in Northern Ireland has been held in high regard and it is essential that we maintain those high standards.

The Minister’s assertion that “everything should be on the table” risks introducing even more uncertainty into our already uncertain education and teacher-training systems. St Mary's is sustainable until 2018, and Stranmillis is sustainable until 2021. That is the status quo. Introducing any degree of uncertainty would make that sustainability even more uncertain and put those colleges in an uneven place and make it harder for them to maintain that sustainability.

The Minister needs to comment on the non-departmental public body (NDPB) status and how that would affect that sustainability of the teacher training colleges?

With regard to the Minister’s reference to an appointee for the second stage, it is essential that the Minister’s chosen appointee is empowered to act for the good of teacher training in Northern Ireland and not merely deliver the ministerial decision and minister’s political party’s ideology with regard to teacher training.

Finally, it is essential that the Minister provides us with the terms of reference that the appointee is able to apply to the relevant methodology.

The teachers we train here are responsible for educating our children. To be a teacher is one of the greatest responsibilities that anyone can have. We simply cannot afford to take chances with it.”