UUP says Ruane must heed Assembly Calls and Intervene on Classroom Assistants Dispute
In a statement today, UUP Education spokesman Basil McCrea said,
“Parents across Northern Ireland will be dismayed that the Education Minister has so grievously mismanaged the Classrooms Assistant dispute. Now Northern Ireland’s schools face impending industrial action, disrupting the education of our children. The blame for this state of affairs lies entirely with Caitriona Ruane.
Having spent her time as Minister pursuing ideological hobby-horses, the Education Minister has failed in her duty to address the practical issues considered to be of first importance by Northern Ireland parents and teachers.
Classroom Assistants are crucial in delivering quality education in our schools. The Minister’s high-handed approach in dismissing the case of the Classroom Assistants undermines her fine words about their importance in the education of our children. The pay, career structure and conditions of Classroom Assistants should reflect their central role in our children’s education.
Now that the Assembly has backed my Party’s motion calling on the Minister to constructively intervene, I trust that the Minister will heed the Assembly’s voice and act now to prevent disruption in our schools”.