Ulster Unionist Party education spokesperson Danny Kinahan MLA, has expressed disappointment that Education Minister John O’Dowd has refused to distance himself from his Sinn Fein colleague Chris Hazzard, who has accused primary schools of ‘misappropriating public funds’ in allegedly preparing pupils for the transfer tests.
At question time in the Assembly Mr Kinahan said:
“Does the Minister agree with his party colleague Mr Hazzard who has accused the primary schools accused of coaching as ‘misappropriating public funds’, or does he agree with me that those were outrageous remarks which should be withdrawn immediately?”
The Minister did not take the opportunity to distance himself from the remarks.
Mr Kinahan said;
“I am disappointed but not surprised that the Minister has not shown some leadership, and has not chastised his party colleague for his completely inappropriate comments. The old adage that people in glasshouses should not throw stones comes to mind. For Sinn Fein to accuse schools of ‘misappropriating public funds’ when it is prepared to commit over £2.5M to build a new Irish Language secondary school for which there is no approved economic appraisal, beggars belief. I repeat my call for Sinn Fein to withdraw Mr Hazzard’s comments and apologise to the schools it has defamed.”