RHS Prep Parents' Group returned to Stormont today to hear Education Committee meeting with DENI officials

A link to the audio of this meeting is available HERE. (Prep funding item commences at 14 minutes 6 seconds)

A small group of us from the RHS Prep parents group, Mrs Packham, Head of Department and Mrs Fraser attended the public viewing of the NI Assembly Education Committee today (14th April) at Stormont. The purpose of this meeting was for several officials from Department of Education to update the Education Committee on EQIA.

Briefing update on the Proposal to withdraw funding from Preparatory Departments of Grammar Schools

Witnesses:
John McGrath – Deputy Secretary
Roisin Lilley – School Finance Branch
Paul Duffy – Accounts Branch

Before the meeting it was not expected that a decision would be made today, as it is public knowledge that the Education Minister has not yet made her decision. In fact, John McGrath, Deputy Secretary from DENI explained that the delay was due to the Education Minister taking time to review all the responses received and that she would give responses due consideration. He confirmed that there was a high volume of responses, the majority being from parents.

During the briefing, the Chair of the Education Committee, Mervyn Storey, took the opportunity to express with the Education Department officials, his grave concerns at both the nature of this EQAI and the delay in a decision He reiterated strongly on the impact that the whole process was having on parents, teaching and auxiliary staff and children, particularly in the three SEELB controlled schools. He, on several occasions, told the DENI officials that the situation was in no way satisfactory and needed resolved as a matter of urgency.

Mr Storey also expressed his displeasure at the lack of communication from DENI with the Education Committee following correspondence from the Committee to DENI in writing on 30th March 2010. He said that various important issues were raised and questions asked in that correspondence and that, as of today 14th April, the Committee had yet to receive a response to any of the issues raised.

Towards the end of the briefing, John McGrath was asked by the Chair when a decision on the EQIA would be made by the Education Minister. Mr McGrath anticipated that a decision would be made before the end of April.