Govt Education Proposals are fundamentally flawed - Young Unionists
The Young Unionists submitted their response today to the Consultation on the Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 stating that the Government’s proposals are fundamentally flawed, dangerous and pose a serious threat to the education of future generations.
In a statement Young Unionist Chairman, Cllr Mark Dunn said,
“Education is an emotive issue because it involves key decisions that will have a massive impact upon future generations. As young people we would like to make our opposition to these proposals known and pledge with colleagues in the Assembly and at Westminster do to all we can to campaign against them.
“We believe that the current proposals contained in the Draft Order are not only fundamentally flawed, but are dangerous and pose a serious threat to the education of future generations. We reject these proposals as unsuitable, unworkable and ill thought out.
“The Young Unionist’s call upon the Minister to delay a decision on this crucial issue until it can be debated openly and fully by the Northern Ireland Assembly, if and when recalled. This issue can only be dealt with and decided upon by the political representatives of the people of Northern Ireland.
“Not only is the Minister out of touch with local politicians but with the public too. Only last week a newspaper poll stated that 90% of the public were against her Department’s proposals, yet she said that change would continue. This only helps to further erode public confidence in the political process and shows quite clearly, how Northern Ireland is suffering from a very bad dose of Direct Rule Syndrome.
“Last week the Young Unionists wrote to the Education Minister Angela Smith requesting a meeting with her to explain why we feel these proposals are so wrong. Unfortunately six days later she declined. The Minister must understand that the Young Unionists will not rest on this issue. We intend to take our message to Rathgael House in the near future. If the Minister will not meet us then we will bring our proposals to her.”