DUP sets out first school plan details
THE DUP spelt out esterday its first broad proposals to reform Northern Ireland's education system since Peter Robinson's controversial speech on "educational apartheid".
The party's education spokesman, Mervyn Storey, said self-interest had
led some to oppose its plan for a "single education system" to replace the Catholic and state sectors.
The Roman Catholic Church, Sinn Fein and the SDLP have accused Mr
Robinson of sectarianism for saying that it is morally wrong to have separate schooling systems for Catholic and Protestant children.
Speaking to Ballymoney High School, his old school, Mr Storey, the chairman of Stormont's education committee, said that the "predictable" responses to Mr Robinson's comments from some showed how entrenched vested interests had become in the education system.
"The responses show how fearful many are of an open and honest
debate about how to move forward on an inclusive and equitable basis
– protecting all but favouring none," he said.
"In the frst minister's speech he made reference to a commission to
tackle the issue of agreeing a single system."
Mr Storey highlighted four areas where such a commission would have
to find agreement.
He said that there needed to be a single body which allowed all to be
represented but abolished "state funded bodies representing vested interests".
The structure of any new education body, he said, would have to be cost-
effective, while the new system would have to allow for parental choice, he added.
And, in a clear reference to current education minister Caitriona Ruane, he said any new body would need to agree education policy "based on consensus and not the whim or ideology of an individual minister".
Meanwhile, the DUP has denied a claim by TUV leader Jim Allister that there is a split between the first minister, Peter Robinson, and the
fnance minister, Sammy Wilson, over the budget process.
Mr Wilson is expected to bring budget proposals to an executive sub-
committee by the end of this week.
Mr Allister said: "Delay will only compound the disarray which the
cuts are bringing to departmental expenditure plans and further aggravate the pain inficted on the public."
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Monday 28 May 2012
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