MP warns schools will face budget crisis over changes

MP warns schools will face budget crisis over changes

27 April 2016

SOUTH Down MP Margaret Ritchie has given her backing to school principals fighting “financial meltdown.”

Ms Ritchie has warned that local schools could be forced to make redundancies as a result of major budgetary changes introduced earlier this month.

The changes, which were introduced at the start of the new financial year, include schools being forced to fund increases in employers’ contributions to National Insurance and superannuation and an 0.8 per cent reduction in funding allocated to each pupil.

Principals have warned that these rising costs equate to a budget cut of around 8 per cent, which Ms Ritchie said puts schools under untenable pressure and could lead to a compromise in children’s education.

She said she had contacted the outgoing Education Minister, John O’Dowd, seeking a solution to the new pay arrangements.

“This could potentially lead to many redundancies which would impact on the delivery of the school curriculum, with a particular impact on rural communities,” she said.

“This issue does not only affect secondary schools, it will also have a big impact on our primaries.

“There must be adequate money available for our teaching and education to ensure our children can stay in local communities from pre-school to university age. That may not happen if the curriculum is compromised due to a funding shortage.”

Principals have warned that the cuts could potentially cost tens of thousands of pounds, with the cash coming straight out of their budgets, leading to enforced cuts and redundancies.

Mr Sean Sloan, principal of St Patrick’s Grammar School, confirmed schools were facing “real cuts” of around 8 per cent.

“That is money that will have to come from somewhere,” he said.

Mr Sloan, who is a member of the Catholic Heads Association which has joined four other influential groups to fight the government’s plans, said he was not anticipating any redundancies at his school as cuts had already been made to ensure close financial control.

“At this stage St Patrick’s is not contemplating any redundancies as we had previously made a range of cuts to get close financial control because of the budgetary uncertainty,” he said.

“I have been in contact with Margaret Ritchie with the suggestion that politicians could lobby on behalf of schools.

“We know there are cuts but perhaps this could be part of the Westminster agreement to ensure these cuts are made over a longer period of time to allow schools to get more control over their costs.”