Ulster Unionist representatives have expressed their amazement that schools that have been approved for funding for Shared Education Signature Projects, have had their letters of offer withdrawn.  St John’s and Moy Regional Primary School is one such application which is on hold because of an ongoing, province wide dispute between teacher unions and the Department over the reporting of pupil assessments.

Ulster Unionist Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Tom Elliott said:

“I have been in contact with both the Education Authority and the Minister for Education about this issue.  As it stands, because of the dispute between schools and the Department over statutory assessments at Key stages 2 and 3, offers of funding to Shared Education Signature projects have been rescinded.  This affects primary schools in Dungannon and also the much discussed Shared Campus Project between St John’s and Moy Regional Primary School in Moy, County Tyrone.  Undoubtedly, this impacts many other projects right across Northern Ireland.

“I fail to see how an issue surrounding an ongoing, province-wide dispute over maths and English assessments has led to the current impasse, where offers of funding have suddenly been withdrawn for shared education projects.  This uncertainly is happening at a time when budgets for basic repairs for schools have dried up, and funding for special needs assistance in schools is also being squeezed.  It is an intolerable situation which the Department and Minister need to sort out as a matter of urgency.”

Sandra Overend MLA, the Ulster Unionist Party’s spokesperson on education, said:

“Fundamental questions now need to be asked about the Minister’s policy on shared education.  I have placed a written question in the Assembly asking the Minister of Education how many letters of offer have been rescinded for the Shared Education Signature Project.    The whole project must be under threat if schools, whose applications for shared education projects have been previously approved, have had their funding offers withdrawn.

“The Ulster Unionist Party has up to now given a fair wind to the whole concept of shared education.  Our support, however, is based on our understanding that it has to be part of a long term process leading to a single education system for Northern Ireland.  It is increasingly apparent that others in the political sphere do not share that vision.  Without consensus on this basic question, there is a real risk of public money being squandered with no guaranteed benefit in terms of building a united community.  The Minister’s policy suggests that 80% of school pupils will be participating in shared education within 4 years.  This is a huge logistical and financial commitment, yet it appears to be falling at the very first hurdle.”