Robbie Butler MLA, Ulster Unionist Education spokesperson, has stated that Education Minister, Peter Weir MLA, needs to sit up and listen when the Comptroller and Auditor General`s report states that nearly £1 billion of funding has not made any demonstrable difference in narrowing the educational attainment gap.
Mr Butler said:
“The Comptroller and Auditor General`s report should set alarm bells ringing for the Education Minister. If nearly £1 billion of spending ‘has not made any demonstrable difference in narrowing the educational attainment gap’, then questions need to be asked and Peter Weir needs to provide some answers. We can`t keep going on like this. Repeating the same mistakes is letting down disadvantaged pupils.
“There needs to be a more specific and detailed assessment process so that the money goes directly to those in need. Those who need this funding the most are not benefiting from it. We need a pro-active assessment process to clearly identify and target funding for those in need rather than a more generalised approach.
“The Department of Education needs to work more closely with schools and community workers on the ground and in the classroom to precisely identify those who urgently require this funding to bridge this gap. If current schemes aimed at bridging this gap are failing to do so, then we need a different approach.
“Peter Weir needs to lay out a detailed response to the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General. Kieran Donnelly has played a vital role in highlighting issues with how public bodies spend public money in the past so when he issues a report like this, the Education Minister needs to sit up and listen.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Northern Ireland Audit Office Report
Closing the Gap – Social Deprivation and links to Educational Attainment: