Transparency and accountability needed from Education Minister over major funding allocations, says Alliance Education representatives.

Alliance Education spokespeople Nick Mathison MLA and Michelle Guy MLA have called on the Education Minister to be transparent and accountable when it comes to his decision-making process around major funding allocations to schools.

Education Nick Mathison Michelle Guy

They were speaking after news that the minister has awarded £710,000 in funding to a school in Derry-Londonderry following a meeting with himself and other DUP representatives, despite not having applied for it.

 

Other schools in the area who have had applications for major capital works funding previously approved have since had their funding subsequently paused.

 

Nick Mathison, Chair of Stormont’s Education Committee, has said: “All schools deserve access to the funding and resources they need to provide the highest possible standard of education for our children and young people.

 

“However, it’s no secret that we’re facing a difficult situation in terms of our public finances and tough decisions must be made in terms of where funding is prioritised. This makes openness, accountability, and adherence to proper process all the more crucial, and yet we have another instance in a growing list where the Education Minister appears to have fallen short in this regard.

 

“We need clarity around this decision, and I will be submitting an urgent two-day question to the minister asking him to explain his rationale for making it.”

 

Michelle Guy has said: “Whilst it’s welcome seeing funding allocated to upgrade facilities that will make a real difference to the lives of our young people, there are some glaring questions in relation to the business case that was put forward in this specific instance, and how the minister and his department came to the decision to prioritise this case above others right across our school estate.

 

“I have been meeting schools almost every week in my constituency of Lagan Valley and the majority of them need some kind of capital investment. The school leadership and staff teams are doing incredible work, but they need financial support.

 

“A fair and open system is fundamental. The minister has a duty to target what limited resources we have where they’re needed most and to provide transparency around the process that led to this conclusion.

 

“It’s incredibly timely that he’s due to appear before the Education Committee next week, and I will be questioning him on this as a matter of priority.”