Outcome of the EQIA

Julie Rainey, Liz Breadon and Pauline Frazer attended the NI Assembly Education Committee Meeting today (28th April), to hear the Department of Education's

Departmental Briefing on Outcome of draft EQIA and the Minister’s decision to withdraw part of the Funding to Prep. Departments of Grammar Schools

Many of you have asked what the Minister of Education's justification was for cutting the funding by 1/3 if the issue was based on equality. Department of Education officials were asked this question by members of the Education Committee. John McGrath, DE Deputy Secretary, explained that the Education Minister was "continuing the trajectory" on from previous funding cuts in 1994 (50% to 40%) and 1998 (40% to 30%). She did not feel this was "out of kilter" to make the reduction to 20% (i.e. the what the "reduced by 1/3" means). She had taken consideration of responses and advice given to her and therefore was not removing the funding altogether as previously proposed, though she was still of the personal opinion that prep funding was inequitable.

There was no indication that anything was in the pipeline in future years with regard to further cuts. It was referred to that the previous cuts were in 1998. There was plenty of opportunity for DE officials to indicate if there any plans and there was nothing to report. They said no Departments at all could make guarantees for years down the line.

Interestingly at the end of the session, a Sinn Fein Committee Member said of the Minister "she was damned if she did and damned if she didn't".

It was suggested by Committee Members that perhaps the Minister had 'saved face" with the 1/3 cut.

That’s the explanation we got.