Are the children and young people of Northern Ireland (NI) being used as pawns? 

The Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC) gave evidence to the Northern Ireland (NI) Affairs Committee Inquiry on funding for public services in NI on Wednesday 24 May.  

Highlighting a number of issues, CSSC Chief Executive, Mark Baker believes the NI Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris MP and Minister of State Steve Baker MP appear to refuse to accept the extensive and unfair underinvestment despite the evidence presented.

On the topic of underfunding Mr Baker noted that Northern Ireland education funding has been reduced by £66.4m and asked as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, is it not time to invest effectively in the future of Northern Ireland – its children? Instead, the Secretary of State and Minister of State refuse to listen to the evidence. The decision of the Secretary of State to treat Northern Ireland differently and provide less money for education than to England ensures difficult decisions have to be made to cut services which will detrimentally impact on the lives of the children he celebrated only a few weeks ago.

Mark Baker expressed that we are unsure as to the reasons behind the cut to education funding. In the absence of a clear rationale, we are left with 3 questions, the first question is  are our children and young people being used as pawns? Secondly is Northern Ireland being penalised because of a perception that there is mismanagement and waste in the education system? Thirdly are the Secretary of State and Minister of State choosing not to listen to those working in the sector? Instead are they continuously quoting an opinion paper recently disputed by the Department of Education? If the answer is yes to any of these questions then we must be significantly concerned.

In relation to topic of transformation Mr Baker stated that Northern Ireland education needs evidence-based transformation. This transformation should have clear strategic objectives and firm political buy-in from all and this transformation needs investment. The Secretary of State talks of the need for transformation but talk is all that he is willing to do. Again, the evidence clearly states that education is underfunded. The Secretary of State’s decision to reduce budgets further and to then state reform is needed is counterintuitive to the very transformation he says he supports. 

CSSC stressed the need for schools and education service providers to have consistent and sufficient core funding that is not dependent on in year allocations or one-off payments. The amount provided to schools to deliver education for NI’s children and young people is simply not enough in securing funding for secure services.

Watch full NI Affairs Committee meeting here.

Read CSSC’s written evidence to NI Affairs Committee on funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland here.

24 May 2023