Ulster Unionist education spokesperson Danny Kinahan MLA has strongly criticised the fact that the Education Bill- setting up a single Education Authority as an administrative support body for schools- will be pushed through the Assembly without normal committee scrutiny and stakeholder engagement.

 Mr Kinahan said:

 “The new Education Bill has been published with only 6 clauses and 4 schedules, in contrast to the two previously abandoned Bills which sought to establish an Education and Skills Authority.  However, short is not always sweet and the Ulster Unionist Party is very disappointed that this Bill is not receiving full examination at committee level and the proper consultation that our education sector deserves.

 “An Education Bill was introduced to the Assembly by Minister Ruane on 25 November 2008.  That Bill had 55 clauses and 8 schedules.  Another Education Bill was introduced to the Assembly on 2 October 2012 by Minister O’Dowd.  That Bill had 69 clauses and 8 schedules.

 “Both these large and complex Bills had a committee stage, where the committee was able to scrutinise on a clause by clause basis.  We were also able to seek the views of experts in the field of education.  That is what an education committee is supposed to do in a legislative Assembly.  This is all now being bypassed with the new Bill being pushed through under accelerated passage.  No options are being explored; we are just being presented with a fait accompli that a single Education Authority is the only way to go.

 “This may only be about educational administration, and may not have grabbed the attention of the media and the general public.  But it is important.  We talk of ‘shared education’ and the need to tackle the stubbornly high levels of educational underachievement in some areas.  However the administrative support for schools must be fit for purpose, focused and equitable. Skipping the committee stage of this Education Bill means that educationalists will not be formally consulted.  Rushed legislation inevitably leads to poor law, which will have to be revisited in the future.

 “Yet again, the Assembly through its inaction is bringing itself into disrepute.  Yet again it looks as though a back office deal has been agreed between Sinn Fein and the DUP, with Alliance being prepared to ‘accept almost anything’ in the words of its own education spokesperson.  What sort of way is this to run a legislative Assembly?”