Dismay at Minister’s response on centres

Dismay at Minister’s response on centres

22 February 2017

THE Education Minister has refused to meet with Newry Mourne and Down Council over the proposed closure of local outdoor education centres.

At Monday’s meeting of the council’s Active and Healthy Communities committee, councillors received a letter from Education Minister, Peter Weir, declining their requested meeting due to time constraints.

Mr Weir pointed out that he has written to the Education Authority indicating that he expected alternative proposals put forward during the consultation process to be considered.

Delamont Outdoor Education Centre in Killyleagh, Ardnabannon in Castlewellan and Killowen in Rostrevor are set to close under new Education Authority proposals. Killyleagh Outdoor Education could also move to a self-catering facility.

Mr Weir’s DUP colleague, councillor Billy Walker, said he was unimpressed by the letter.

“I think it is wrong,” he said. “They should have had the courtesy to meet with the council.”

Mr Walker said the Education Authority had recently been happy to meet with him and councillor Terry Andrews on the issue. He said that as the Education Authority was making the ultimate decision, the council should request a meeting with them.

In the light of Mr Weir’s response, the council also agreed their next step was to submit its formal response to the proposed closures, which urges a reversal of the plans.

One of the council response’s principal points was: “Visits to residential and/or outdoor education centres are often the most memorable learning experiences in a young person’s school career, providing, for many, their first time away from home and a chance to see/experience the world in a different way and from a different perspective.”

The response argued that the council’s education centres were “very well equipped and resourced” with multi-activity outdoor adventure courses, which were also a valuable resource for the local community and economy.

“The council believes that the training provided through the centres for teachers and for youth leaders is extremely valuable and would benefit from further funding and promotion from EANI,” the response read.

It added that statistics indicated residential and outdoor education centre were part of a “growing sector” which should be developed in partnership with the council: “Going forward, it is vital that the Education Authority continues to encourage schools (both primary and secondary) to attend residential and 

outdoor education centres. The council believes that outdoor education centres can make a significant contribution to the educational curricula, and therefore make an important contribution to physical, personal and social education for students.”

It added: “There is a higher than average youth population in the district and the increase in demand for related services has largely been ignored.”

Implementing the recommendations would also have a “significant impact” on the local economy, the response stated. “When considering closure of the centres, the cost of operating the three centres needs to be set against the economic benefit/spin off  from their operation,” it read.

Concluding, it stated: “In summary, the council values these facilities within our district and believes our location, natural environment and growing young population should ensure that these centres are not only maintained, but also further developed. 

“The council believes the Education Authority should reverse the plan to close these facilities noting that the majority of which rest within our council area. This would have an extremely negative impact on our area and ask that the Education Authority reconsider their plan.”