McIlveen welcomes Ruane U-turn

DUP Education Committee Member, Michelle McIlveen has welcomed the Education Minister’s U-turn on Preparatory Department funding. The Minister has decided to continue funding for the Preparatory Department’s for the forthcoming year but the funding is to be reduced by 1/3. Commenting on the decision the DUP member for Strangford said:

“Clearly, the fact that the Preparatory Departments are to continue to receive funding is very welcome news, although that funding is to be reduced by 1/3. Preparatory Departments represent fantastic value for money in terms of the results and to remove that funding totally would have resulted in an additional burden on the Education Budget. It is a relief to many of those parents who send their children to Preparatory Departments, particularly in these fraught financial times, that funding will continue. It is also a relief for the children at these schools who faced uncertainty whether they would still be going to their school next year. The DUP has been fighting hard for those parents and children in bringing this matter to the fore.

This U-turn has been carried out in the face of extreme pressure not only from DUP, but by extremely concerned parents who care about their children being used as political pawns by Caitriona Ruane in pursuit of her educational jihad. She has been seen to crumble under that pressure. The uncertainty that has been created due to the Minister’s dithering over this funding issue is nothing short of disgraceful and can only have resulted in having a negative impact on the children. In light of this we will now be having discussions with the sector as to how we deal with this issue given the damage which has been done.”

Source - http://www.dup.org.uk/default.htm

PREP FUNDING IS SECURED!

A small group of us were present at the Education Committee Meeting this afternoon (Wed 21st April) at which the Education Budget 2010/11 was announced.

So too was the definite news that prep funding was secured although, with a reduction of 1/3 from September 2010. If my calculations are correct, finance wise will be receiving from Sept 2010 approximately £533 instead of £808 per child per year from Department of Education. In context of the Education Minister's initial aim via EQIA to remove all funding, I think we can be satisfied at this result.

In terms of this issue rearing it's ugly head again, this question was asked by the Education Committee to Department of Education and there was no indication of this being brought up again in the near future. John McGrath from DE said that "this is the end of the process."

The main issue is that our controlled status is currently secure and that has always been vital to Regent House School.

Full audio of this meeting is available here.

Education Budget information, commences 19 minutes 50 seconds.

Prep funding decision Part 2 - 6 minutes, 10 seconds and 20 minutes, 36 seconds.

Full item Click here

Preparatory Departments

The Minister also outlined her decision on the funding for preparatory schools in the future following the recent consultation process on the draft Equality Impact Assessment.

The Minister said: "My position on this issue has always been that funding of Preparatory Departments is an inequitable use of public money. I have given conscientious consideration to the responses to the EQIA and recognise that ending the funding completely may cause difficulties for parents and possible disruption in some schools. I have therefore decided to continue funding Preparatory Departments, but at a reduced level. The current level of funding will be reduced by one third from September 2010."