Givan: Education Authority failing to support controlled schools

Givan has accused the Education Authority of failing to adequately support controlled schools, citing a lack of resources and attention that has led to disparities in education quality. He calls for immediate action to address these concerns and ensure that controlled schools receive fair treatment and the necessary support to improve student outcomes and overall school performance.

Education Minister Paul Givan made the comments in the Assembly on Tuesday

The Education Authority (EA) has been criticized for neglecting controlled schools, which the education minister described as being treated like "poor relations" in the education system. Paul Givan made these remarks while addressing assembly members (MLAs) in Stormont on Tuesday. However, Justin McCamphill, the NASUWT teaching union official for Northern Ireland, called these statements "shocking."

McCamphill emphasized that the minister must explain exactly how the Education Authority has failed controlled schools and the specific impact this has had on students. He also argued that, even if these failures are true, creating more duplication within the education system is not the solution.

Northern Ireland has over 500 controlled schools, with most of the students coming from Protestant backgrounds. Givan has suggested a separate management body for these schools, potentially removing them from EA control. He made these comments in response to a question from DUP MLA Maurice Bradley.

Currently, the Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC) provides support for controlled schools, but it lacks legal powers and does not manage teacher appointments like the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS). Givan proposed that a dedicated managing authority would ensure fair and effective support. A task force, led by CSSC head Mark Baker, has been created to develop proposals for this new managing body. Givan stressed that other schools have their own managing authorities, and this inequality must be addressed for the controlled sector.

According to CSSC figures, controlled schools in Northern Ireland serve nearly 150,000 students. Around 58% are from Protestant backgrounds, 11% from Catholic backgrounds, and 32% from other backgrounds. McCamphill questioned the minister’s plan, suggesting instead that a single employing body could improve industrial relations, reduce duplication, enhance efficiency, and redirect funds to frontline education services.

In response to a question from People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll, Givan stated there is clear evidence that Protestant working-class communities face more educational disadvantages than others. Carroll had argued that economic class, rather than religion, plays a more significant role in whether young people are seen as failures. He also noted that the segregated education system hasn't helped. Givan responded by saying any measures introduced for Protestant working-class communities would apply to all communities and that community background does play a role.

Several reports over the years have raised concerns about Protestant boys underperforming academically, and Protestant men from low-income backgrounds are underrepresented in university courses. Overall, students from wealthier backgrounds are twice as likely to enter higher education compared to those from less affluent backgrounds.

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Source: BBC‍