Education Groups (Hansard, 18 May 1989)

§ 3. Mr. McLeish
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent meetings he has held with education groups.

§ 9. Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received representations recently from education groups.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Dr. Brian Mawhinney)
During the past three months I have met representatives from a wide range of education groups on such matters as education reform, school development proposals and the public library service.

§ Mr. McLeish
Is the Minister aware of the overwhelming opposition to the proposals contained in the document "Education Reform in Northern Ireland: The Way Forward"? Will he tell the House whether the proposals are any more or less unpopular than the Government's plan for National Health Service reforms in the Province?

§ Dr. Mawhinney
I have to tell the hon. Gentleman that his information is very poor. Contrary to what he says, there is broad acceptance of the need to improve standards in schools in Northern Ireland and a wide welcome is being given to greater parental choice and involvement in the education of children.

§ Mr. McFall
Has the Minister recently met groups campaigning for integrated education? If so, does he believe that the establishment of non-denominational teacher training colleges would greatly assist such aims? If he believes that, why is there no mention of it in the White Paper on education reform in Northern Ireland?

§ Dr. Mawhinney
I have met those involved in integrated education. This week I officially opened the latest integrated school, in Newcastle. The "Way Forward" document was not about teacher training, as the hon. Gentleman may well know—that matter was dealt with in an earlier report. The situation in Northern Ireland is generally believed not to have changed since that report was issued, but we are seeking to find ways in which teachers may be trained together more effectively, especially in terms of education for mutual understanding.

§ Mr. Pawsey
Further to that last answer, may I ask what encouragement is being given to the development of more integrated education in the Province? Does my hon. Friend agree that such schools would do much to bridge the sectarian divide?

§ Dr. Mawhinney
When the draft Order in Council is available, for public consultation—next month, I hope —it will include legislation to permit parents democratically to choose to opt their schools out of existing structures and into an integrated structure. It will also enable us to make money available to help those who want to start new integrated schools, and will lay on the Department of Education a statutory responsibility to foster and encourage the development of integrated education. All of that will be subject to the choice of parents for their own children.

§ Mr. Ashdown
I warmly congratulate the Minister and the Government on their work with integrated schools, but 460 one issue remains unresolved—that of day one start-up funding, which is to be resolved in forthcoming legislation. Is the Minister aware that two more integrated schools, one in Ballymena and the other in Enniskillen, are being held up because of the lack of resolution on that issue? Will he consider allowing those schools to go ahead with day one start-up funding in advance of legislation, which will be coming in due course anyway?

§ Dr. Mawhinney
My understanding is that I do not have the ability to meet the right hon. Gentleman's request. We need the legislation so that what he refers to as day one start-up funding can take place. We have recognised the importance of that. That is why we hope, subject to the will of both Houses, to change the legislation so that the change will be possible. It is up to people in Ballymena and Enniskillen to judge as others have done, whether they want to start the process ahead of the legislation. That is a matter for them, not for me. I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his personal words.

§ Ms. Mowlam
The Minister has told the House that there is a wide welcome for the education reform proposals. Does he agree with a senior official from his Department, Mr. Billy Burnison, who recently stated that the reform proposals will not meet the needs of all pupils in Northern Ireland?

§ Dr. Mawhinney
The hon. Lady should read the letter which Mr. Burnison subsequently sent to the Belfast Telegraph, which gave a more accurate account of what he said than that which was originally recorded.