Sandra Overend MLA, Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson, has reacted to the Education and Training Inspectorate, Chief Inspectors Report 2014-16.

Mrs Overend said:

“This report does not tell us anything we have not already known for some years now. Indeed, the Education Minister, having also been chair of the Education Committee before should have been more aware than most of the issues which affect the education system in Northern Ireland. The important question at this point is to ask what plans does he have to address them.

“What is most concerning to me as an elected representative are the inequalities that still exist in our school system. A child’s gender, postcode or socio-economic background should not have an impact on their chances for a good start in life. However, this is not new information, we have been hearing about the inequalities of our education system for some years now. This report simply confirms that little to no progress has been made, in fact in some cases the situation has deteriorated.

“The Minister is putting all of his time and effort into attacking the schools themselves, specifically composite classes and schools deemed financially unsustainable. I am glad to see that composite classes of two primary years have been vindicated by the report and I hope this issue can be laid to rest. The financial struggles felt by schools are symptomatic of the financial pressures felt by the entire sector. I fear that the Minister is using challenging financial times to push an agenda of school closures under the Area Plan which are not in the best interests of children and communities.

“What is truly unsustainable is the continued financing and delivery of a divided system. But our current Education Minister simply does not have the necessary leadership skills to challenge the status quo.”