Nick Mathison calls on Education Minister to protect Integrated Education funding

Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison has called on the Education Minister to do the right thing following confirmation that 10 integrated schools hoping to receive money from the Fresh Start scheme are being denied the funding.

Education Nick Mathison Integrated Education

 
The Alliance Education spokesperson submitted a written question on the issue earlier this week to the Education Minister.
 
“This is devastating news for these schools that were relying on the Fresh Start fund established to support Shared and Integrated education to develop their buildings and meet the growing demand for Integrated Education. Naomi Long warned the Secretary of State in writing in December that to reprofile the Fresh Start funding pot would only harm the development of Integrated Education. She has now been proved to be right,” said the Strangford MLA.
 
"This is a backwards step, and one the Minister appears to be content to acquiesce to. It is not good enough and it is vital he now commits to ensuring the schools impacted are prioritised for capital investment and that the £150m taken out of Fresh Start is redirected to any of these projects ready to progress.”