'Schools are counting cost of flawed system'

That appeared to be the verdict among local councillors last week as news emerged that there was no immediate prospect of funding for nursery provision at St. Colman’s Primary School, Annaclone.

During the course of the debate that followed Education Minister Caitriona Ruane was accused of “ignoring everyone” and “steering her own path”.

Councillor Dessie Ward told last week’s council meeting he had received information to suggest Education Minister Caitriona Ruane would not be allocating funds for the nursery; he was very disappointed, he said, given the lack of nursery school places in the district and particularly in Annaclone.

Mr. Ward called on the council to write to the minister protesting both the amount of time taken to reach the decision and the fact that no funds would be forthcoming.

Chairman, Councillor Elizabeth Ingram, said the news was very regrettable and Councillor Joan Baird said she felt there was something wrong with the whole education system itself.

One Banbridge school had had to turn away some 30 youngsters, said Mrs. Baird, who agreed the council should write to the minister.

“Abercorn Primary School needs a new school,” she said. “It has the same assembly hall it has had since 1932. We were to get a new school seven years ago, when I was on the Board, and there’s been nothing since.”

Mrs. Baird said the council should be fighting for the education of the district’s young people.

Councillor Junior McCrum, who sits on Abercorm Primary’s Board of Governors, said a replacement school had been “put on the long finger” and it would be at least five years before a new school was provided.

He recommended the council write to the Education Minister in the strongest possible terms, to tell her to “get her act together”.

It was Councillor John Hanna who then accused Ms. Ruane of refusing to listen to anyone.

“For a government department not even to be attempting to make provision,” he said, “to help parents in good parenting and in giving children a good start in life, for it not to invest in young people and in their future, is very short-sighted.”

Mr. Hanna conceded funding was tight, but ask anyone, he said, what the top priorities should be and health would be one, education the other.

Councillor Patrick McAleenan said he too was greatly disappointed that in Banbridge St. Mary’s Primary School, St. Patrick’s College, and Abercorn Primary School were not to be replaced; teachers and pupils were being shortchanged, he said.