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Education Politics

Staff Shortages & High Rate of School Absences Disrupting Educational Development were Entirely Preventable – Aontu

Aontú Education Spokesperson, Gemma Brolly, expresses frustration and disappointment at the failure to act in order to prevent the current staff shortage and high rate of school absence, which have led to pleading for all available staff and calls for Circuit Breakers. Rep Brolly: “At the beginning of September, principals and school staff found themselves […]

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Community Education Health

Trauma Informed Practice Training to Support Children and Young People Launched

A new training programme focusing on raising awareness of trauma and its potential impacts on children has been launched today. The training provides an opportunity for the entire education sector workforce of approximately 60,000 staff members to improve their understanding of trauma. This includes over 20,000 teachers and approximately 40,000 support staff working in schools […]

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Education

McIlveen Welcomes Further £5million Education Wellbeing Funding

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced a further £5million for the Education Wellbeing funding allocation Through this fund education settings will be given flexibility in how they support the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people and the staff working with them. Michelle McIlveen set out details of the funding during a visit […]

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Education Politics

Aontu Disappointed at Failure to Prevent Staff Shortage and High Rate of School Absence

Aontú Education Spokesperson expresses frustration and disappointment at failure to act in order to prevent the current staff shortage and high rate of school absence, which have led to pleading for all available staff and calls for Circuit Breakers. “At the beginning of September, principals and school staff found themselves swamped with administrations of contact […]

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Community Education Lurgan

O’Dowd Welcomes New Scheme to Promote The Use of Irish Language

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has welcomed a new scheme from Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey which aims to promote the use of the Irish Language by businesses and other organisations.  The Upper Bann MLA said: ”The GRADAIM scheme announced by the Communities Minister will recognise businesses and organisations who provide services through the medium of the […]

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Education

McIlveen Launches New Safer Schools NI App

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has launched a new app for schools to safeguard children and young people when online. The Safer Schools NI app is a one-stop-shop digital library of age-appropriate safeguarding resources for teachers, parents/carers and children and young people. The app, designed and created by online safeguarding experts, INEQE Safeguarding Group, also provides […]

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Education Politics

Blaming Catholic Schools for the Division in Society is Unfair, Inaccurate and Lazy – Aontu

Aontú’s education spokesperson and Derry East Rep Gemma Brolly has hit out at Sinn Féin and the SDLP  for not rejecting the “flawed premise of the Integrated Education’ Bill” currently being discussed in the Assembly Committee. Rep Brolly: “Integrated Education is a wonderful component of the pluralist education system of the north of Ireland. It […]

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Armagh Education Newry Politics South Armagh

McNulty Backs NASUWT Calls to Remove Exemption of Teachers From Fair Employment Legislation

SDLP Education Committee member Justin McNulty MLA has backed calls from teaching union NASUWT to remove the exemption of teachers from fair employment legislation. Commenting, the Newry and Armagh MLA said: “There is significant cross-party support to remove this outdated exemption, evidenced by the widespread support in the recent Assembly debate. “I am aware from […]

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Education Politics

Aontu Supports Irish Language Campaign

Aontú Education Spokesperson and Representative for East Derry, Gemma Brolly encourages the public to support the current campaign calling for urgent action to reverse damages to the place of Irish Language in English Medium Schools and pledges to fight for ‘cothrom na féinne’ for all aspiring linguists within our education system. “For centuries, the Irish […]

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Community Education

Library Fines To Be Removed

Fines for overdue library books are to be removed with immediate effect, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced. Minister Hargey explained: “Libraries are a crucial resource at the heart of our communities. They serve as a place for people to access a wide range of services including books, newspapers, online resources, computers, printers, audio materials […]

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Community Education

Be Safe, Be Seen on the Roads

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon is reminding pupils to be safe, be seen as they travel to and from school this autumn/winter. Launching this year’s annual Road Safety Teaching Aid calendar, Minister Mallon visited Glengormley Integrated Primary School to remind pupils of the importance of safe behaviour on the roads, particularly at this time of year […]

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Education Politics

Increased Waiting Lists for Assessment Cannot Continue and Must Be Addressed – Aontu

Aontú Education Spokesperson and Representative for East Derry Gemma Brolly welcomes NICCY’s most recent report ‘More than a Number’ and urges robust actioning of recommendations as a matter of urgency. Ms Brolly began by commenting “I wish I could say that the figures for waiting times and numbers shocked within this report shocked me, however […]