The Transferor Representatives’ Council, which represents the three main Protestant Churches in education, is deeply disappointed by the decision to cut the Shared Education budget by 50% and remove financial support for this initiative in the next financial year.
Today’s report from Ulster University, partially funded by the Integrated Education Fund, states that the significant underfunding in education is due to duplication. The CSSC would contend that this is an incorrect assertion and weakens the case for equality of education funding for our children and young people.
Christians can model a warm sense of covenant and hospitality in how they provide education on behalf of the state, leading educationalist Professor Trevor Cooling said on Monday evening (20th March) as he delivered the Church of Ireland’s 65th Annual Theological Lecture at Queen’s.
Leaders of the seven bodies representing sectoral interests in education in Northern Ireland recently met with Minister of State Steve Baker. Figures from the Education Authority show 50% of schools will face financial deficit by the end of this month.
The Transferor Representatives’ Council has joined with six other organisations representing the interests of schools, teachers and pupils in Northern Ireland to write to the Secretary of State to raise their shared concerns about the underfunding of education and the consequences for our children.
Archbishop John McDowell has written to all controlled schools in Northern Ireland to express thanks for all that they do in what has been a challenging season.
The controlled sector is the largest education sector in Northern Ireland accounting for 49% of all schools, including 63 nursery schools, 380 primary schools and 69 post–primary schools. Controlled schools are open to all faiths and none which brings a rich diversity and inclusive ethos.
The Church of Ireland Board of Education (Northern Ireland) wishes to encourage parishes and schools in their prayers over the next few weeks to remember all those undertaking exams and those invigilating and marking them.
Theology is the means “to be able to sustain the vision at the heart of the Christian faith”. So declared renowned theologian Alister McGrath, addressing a sold–out audience at Queen’s University, during the 64th Annual Theological Lecture, on Monday, 4th April, at Riddel Hall.
A lively discussion involving around 50 representatives from churches, schools and a range of other key organisations with a role in education took place in Portadown, on Friday (25th March) with a view to helping our children and young people to reach their full potential.
