The options, which were outlined in his speech to the Shared Education Learning Forum conference on 28th September included the potential for shared facilities and multi-ethos single site schools and apply to both new builds and schools which may be faced with closer. This leaves the way open for smaller schools that may be unviable, particularly in rural areas, exploring options with their nearest neighbour, while allowing them to protect their faith-based ethos.
In his speech to the 150 delegates, which included a number of teachers and principals from Fermanagh, the Minister said:
“It’s timely that I’m here today to speak on Shared Education and the way forward. I have set forth a course of work which will, in my view, change the landscape of education in the future. Contained within that will be sharing of education from the outset. I’ve brought the controlled and catholic maintained sectors into the room and asked them to plan for the future”. He went on to say:
“I want a decision based on the needs of pupils and I can assure the conference any proposal coming forward to me that is a shared facility, a shared educational centre or is one school on one site where the ethos are respected with the variety of sectors going into it, that will be looked upon very favourably by this Minister”.
The Fermanagh Trust, which had helped organise the conference and had invited the Minister to speak, was upbeat about the opportunities which the Minister presented in his speech but believes that work needs to start immediately by those schools that may be unsustainable. Its Director, Lauri McCusker, said:
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The majority of schools in Fermanagh have been participating in and enjoying the benefits of a Shared Education programme for a number of years. Fermanagh is the only county-wide Programme and we believe the schools in Fermanagh are potentially well placed to weather the challenges ahead. There are opportunities for schools which may face intervention to explore other options in order to maintain educational provision locally. We must not be complacent, however, and we urge those with an interest in securing local provision especially in the primary school sector to act now to identify those needs and opportunities”.
