Stephen Farry: SDLP demands investment yet supports expensive teacher segregation

The party are publicly saying they want to keep a segregated teacher training system, yet with the other side of their mouth they are calling for more investment in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

The SDLP cannot have it both ways.

Any credibility the party had on the economy has hit rock bottom.

Alliance is truly committed to integrated education, unlike others who say they are but then retreat to other systems at the first opportunity.

Our attempts to reform the teacher training system respected pluralism and diversity but would have reduced costs, delivered a better service and improved relations by having a shared approach.

It is disappointing other parties continue to divert the scarce resources we have into propping up an unsustainable and segregated system.

Stephen Farry, Alliance, North Down