Local politicians to have more input on North education body

A new centralised body to deliver educational services in the North has been restructured to give politicians more input, the Education minister announced today.

It was originally proposed that the governing board of the new Education and Skills Authority would have no place reserved for elected representatives.

However, Caitriona Ruane has now changed her position and has decided that the majority of the board’s 13 members should be political appointments.

The move comes after concerns were raised by members of the Sinn Féin minister’s Stormont scrutiny committee.

The ESA is set to replace the North’s existing five education and library boards in 2010.

Political representatives are significantly represented on the current boards.

The new delivery body is being established as part of plans to streamline public administration in the region.

The minister, who received the backing of ministerial colleagues for her plans following last week’s Executive meeting, tabled the draft legislation to the Assembly.

“Local democratic accountability is vital for a service as important as education,” she said.

“The original proposal was that the ESA would have between 8 and 12 members, with no positions reserved for local elected representatives.

“However, I was not satisfied that the ESA would be an effective champion for education without democratic input.

“Therefore, I have decided that the majority of members of the ESA should be local councillors.

“The objective is effective, responsive local delivery of services within a consistent policy framework ”The ESA must be a regional organisation with a strong local presence and a real focus on local delivery.

“Local managers and delivery units will have the freedom to respond to specific local circumstances and need.

“They will be sensitive to and receive input from local committees comprising, amongst others, a number of elected representatives.”

The minister said the ESA would be well equipped to face the major challenges facing the education system, such as underachievement in working class areas, the need to restructure in the face of 50,000 surplus places and managing the contentious issue of changing the system of post primary transfer.

“I am not interested in re-arranging bureaucratic deckchairs,” she said.

“My aim is to have a fit for purpose system that will meet the strategic and economic challenges that we face now and in future.”