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MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTY SEVENTH MEETING OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2001

Present:
Mr D Kennedy (Chairman)
Mr S Wilson (Deputy Chairman)
Mrs E Bell
Mr T Gallagher
Mr O Gibson
Mr B McElduff
Mr G McHugh
Mr K Robinson

Apologies
Mr J Fee
Mr T Hamilton
Mrs P Lewsley

In Attendance:
Mrs C Darrah
Mrs V Artt
Ms J Adair
Ms C Angelone

The Committee met at 10.40 a.m. in private session.

The Chairman expressed the great distress and sorrow of the members and officials at the recent events in America and extended profound sympathy to all who had suffered so grievously.

  1. Minutes of the Meeting of 6 September 2001

    2.

    The minutes of the meeting of 6 September 2001 were agreed.

  2. Matters arising from the Minutes of Proceedings

    3.
    1. Copies of the Minister of Education's response to the Chairman's letter

      2. regarding the draft Strategy Document 'Learning for Tomorrow's World' had been circulated.

    2. Copies of a letter to the Minister of Education from the Northern Ireland

Teachers' Council regarding its claim for an independent inquiry into the pay levels, salary structure, workload and conditions of service for teachers and principals/vice principals had been circulated. Copies of a letter from the National Association of School Masters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) on the same issue had also been circulated. The Committee agreed to keep the matter under review.

  1. Chairman's Business

    2.
    1. The Chairman advised members that he had received a request from the

      2. Education for Chastity Family Support Group regarding the proposed changes to Relationships and Sexuality education and Citizenship in schools. The Committee agreed that arrangements should be made for the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to meet with the group and other available members would attend.

    2. The Chairman advised the Committee that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade

      3. and Industry had written regarding a proposed Research, Development and Innovation Strategy for Northern Ireland. Members agreed that the Committee would not consider the Strategy in detail at present but would review the situation when the draft Strategy was published.

    3. The Chairman advised members that the Health, Social Services and Public

      4. Safety Committee had written regarding a proposed Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill. The Committee noted the contents of the memorandum and agreed no comment was necessary at this time.

    4. The Chairman reminded members that invitations to a Human Rights in Education conference on 26 September and a Racial Equality in Education conference on 31 October had been received from the Department of Education and that members who wished to take up the allocated places should inform the Clerk.

Mrs Bell joined the meeting at 10.50 a.m.

  1. Committee discussion of the proposed Statutory Rule on the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (Constitution) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

    2.

    The Committee considered Statutory Rule 288/2001 - General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (Constitution) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and Mr Gallagher proposed the Motion:

    That the Education Committee has considered Statutory Rule 288/2001 - The General

    Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (Constitution) Regulations (Northern Ireland)

    2001 and has no objection to the Rule.

    Mr McHugh seconded the proposal and the motion was agreed by a majority of the Committee.

    Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 11.20 a.m and Mr Robinson joined the meeting

    at 11.25 a.m.

  2. Consideration of the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula For Grant Aided Schools

    3.

The Chairman outlined the arrangements for the forthcoming evidence sessions. He then welcomed the Specialist Adviser on the Review of Post-Primary Education, Ms Penny McKeown, and the Assembly Researchers, Ms Alison Montgomery and Ms Gillian Kane to the meeting. The Specialist Adviser briefed the Committee on the key issues surrounding the proposals including:

This was followed by a question and answer session. The Committee agreed to seek further information from the Department on the proposals.

Mrs Bell left the meeting at 12.10 p.m.

Ms Montgomery then outlined the systems for the distribution of resources to schools in England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Mr McElduff left the meeting at 12.30 p.m. and Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 12.35 p.m.

  1. Date and time of next meeting

    2.

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Tuesday 18 September at

12.00 noon in Room 135, Parliament Buildings. A meeting of the Committee will also take place on Thursday 20 September at 10.15 a.m. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 12.40 p.m.

DANNY KENNEDY
Committee Chairman

September 2001

11 September 2001 / Menu / 18 September 2001