Ulster Unionist Education spokesperson Rosemary Barton MLA has criticised the Department of Education, who published a social media post, highlighting the benefits of outdoor play for children and young people and that the benefits of such should not be overestimated, just a day after the education authorities announced the removal of the football and GAA coaching programme.
Mrs Barton said:
“This is hypocrisy of the greatest degree. If the education authorities have so much belief in the benefits of outdoor play why will they not practically demonstrate that by continuing the outdoor sports coaching that has been in place for some time for football and GAA.
“I challenge the education authorities to change their decision to remove the sports coaching programme and give children and young people the opportunity to continue with the benefits to their physical health by further provision of this training.”