Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has called for the Department of Education to carry out a review of the Education Authority provision for children with special educational needs. Chris Lyttle said: “As Chair of the All Party Assembly Group on Learning Disability I have been aware of unacceptable difficulties faced by children with special educational needs. […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said the latest confirmation of the major crisis facing schools is again proof of an urgent need for a Bengoa-style review of the entire education system. Kellie was speaking after the NI Affairs Committee inquiry concluded the growing funding crisis has now led to unmanageable pressures on school budgets. She […]
Alliance Integrated Education spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said a joint nomination of the Integrated Education Fund and Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education for the Nobel Peace Prize is well-deserved recognition of both organisations. The nomination of the IEF and NICIE for the prestigious award was made by a number of MPs, TDs and […]
Alliance Integrated Education spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said a joint nomination of the Integrated Education Fund and Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education for the Nobel Peace Prize is well-deserved recognition of both organisations. The nomination of the IEF and NICIE for the prestigious award was made by a number of MPs, TDs and […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has welcomed a challenge by a UN committee for the UK Government to close the childcare gap in Northern Ireland. The UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) recently stated childcare costs here ‘remain excessive,’ which ‘constitutes an obstacle for women to enter and progress in […]
Alliance Lurgan representative Peter Lavery has said it is vital local people participate in an ongoing consultation into the future of the Lurgan campus of Craigavon Senior High School. Peter was speaking after meeting the Education Authority about the potential move, which would see the school’s pupils transferred to the Portadown campus from September 2020. […]
North Down Alliance MLA Stephen Farry has welcomed the additional places allocated to a number of local post-primary schools in order to better manage the transfer process this year, but stressed again the importance of long-term reform. He said: “This is a sensible and pragmatic step to address immediate demographic pressures in certain areas across […]
Alliance representative Lauren Gray has welcomed Central Primary School’s decision to move towards becoming an integrated school. The news was announced this week, after the principal and board took the step of balloting parents after they detected interest in integration among the school community. The parents voted to move to Integrated Status. Lauren said: “It’s […]
A local Alliance Party delegation this week met with the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education, Derek Baker, and senior officials to discuss preparations for the post-primary transfer in North Down this year and a range of other education issues. The delegation comprised Stephen Farry MLA, Kellie Armstrong MLA, Chris Lyttle MLA, Cllr Karen […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said the financial crisis facing our education system is at breaking point. Mr Lyttle was speaking after hosting the National Association of Head Teachers Northern Ireland’s Education Crisis Session at Parliament Buildings. He said every child was entitled to a high quality education. “One of my last acts […]