The Ulster Unionist Party has tabled an amendment to the Shared Education Bill, which, if accepted, will lead to the repeal of the teacher exemption to fair employment regulations in Northern Ireland.
Ulster Unionist education spokesperson Sandra Overend MLA said:
“There has been a lot of focus over the past few years on shared education, with an Education Committee inquiry and a Shared Education Bill currently proceeding through the Assembly. The Ulster Unionist Party enthusiastically supports the idea that children from all community backgrounds should increasingly be educated in the same classrooms as a matter of course.
“However we would argue that it is illogical to break down barriers between pupils without simultaneously breaking down the barriers between the various school types in terms of teacher appointments.
“A useful first step would be to remove the teaching exemption from Fair Employment regulations. Many people will find it amazing that in 2016, it is still perfectly legal to recruit teachers on the basis of their religion. Under Article 71 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (NI) 1998, it is not unlawful for the employers of school teachers to discriminate on the grounds of religious belief or political opinion in relation to the recruitment of persons as teachers in schools. What sort of message does this send out about fairness, equality and a shared future?
“The Ulster Unionist Party has put forward motions and asked questions on this issue consistently throughout the current Assembly’s mandate. However, neither the Department of Education nor OFMdFM have taken responsibility; instead we have had years of inaction. Therefore, we have tabled a new clause to the Shared Education Bill, which we hope will be accepted and supported by the whole Assembly.”
New Clause
After clause 3 insert -‘Fair employment in teaching
3A.The Department shall within one year of this Act receiving Royal Assent repeal Article 71 of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to contribute to encouraging and facilitating shared education.’
Mrs Sandra Overend
Mr Danny Kennedy