MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTY FIRST MEETING OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON
THURSDAY 21 JUNE 2001
Present: Mr D Kennedy (Chairman)
Mr S Wilson (Deputy Chairman)
Mr T Gallagher
Mr O Gibson
Mr T Hamilton
Mrs P Lewsley
Mr G McHugh
Mr K Robinson
Apologies:Mrs E Bell
Mr J Fee
Mr B McElduff
In Attendance:Mrs C Darrah
Mrs V Artt
Miss J Adair
Ms C Angelone
Ms A Montgomery
The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. in private session.
1. Minutes of the Meetings of 14 June 2001
The Chairman advised members of a typographical error on page 1. The minutes of the meeting of 14 June 2001 were agreed.
2. Matters arising from the Minutes of Proceedings
- Copies of the Committee response on the draft strategy document 'Learning for Tomorrow's World: A Strategy for the Education and Development of Children and Young People' had been circulated.
- The Chairman had written to the Minister, as agreed, regarding the postponement of the transfer of funding responsibilities for Voluntary Grammar and Grant Maintained Integrated schools to the Education and Library Boards.
- The Committee noted a response from the Minister of Education confirming that the consultation period for the Review of LMS Funding Formulae had been extended to 21 September 2001 and that primary legislation would be required. The Chairman advised members that he had written to the Minister requesting further clarification on the proposed timescale for the legislation and implementation process. The Minister had also highlighted a further error in the Illustrative Outcomes in the consultation document on the Review of LMS Funding Formulae and provided revised tables.
- Information provided by the Department of Education on the budget provision and pressures for 2002/2003 had been circulated in preparation for the Committee meeting on 26 June and was briefly discussed.
- Copies of a response from the Minister of Education regarding the funding of after schools projects had been circulated. The Committee was pleased to note that interim funding was being provided while other funding sources were pursued. The Committee agreed to request further information regarding the Children's Fund and applications from voluntary organisations.
3. Chairman's Business
- The Chairman advised the Committee that an announcement regarding the new Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education would be made at 11.00 a.m.
- The Chairman advised the Committee that he and the Deputy Chairman had met with representatives of an inter-agency Anti-Bullying Group led by Save the Children and with representatives of the Greater East Belfast Partnership. Details of the meetings will be circulated for members' information.
- The Chairman informed members that arrangements had been made for he and the Deputy Chairman to meet with representatives of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council on Monday 25 June regarding their request for an independent inquiry into teachers' salaries and conditions of service. He invited any available members to attend the meeting.
4. Statutory Rule on the Education (Pupil Records) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
The Committee considered Statutory Rule 236/2001 - The Education (Pupil Records) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and passed the Motion:
That the Education Committee has considered Statutory Rule 236/2001 - The Education (Pupil Records) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001and has no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content.
5. Discussion of the Committee response on the Review of School Information and Prospectuses
A draft Committee response on the Review of School Information and Prospectuses had been circulated. Following a detailed discussion members agreed the response as amended.
6. Discussion with the Specialist Adviser on the Review of Post-Primary Education
The Chairman welcomed the Specialist Adviser on the Review of Post-Primary Education to the meeting. Following a lengthy and detailed discussion of the main issues for inclusion in the Committee response, the Committee agreed that the Specialist Adviser should provide a briefing paper to enable the discussion to be taken forward at the meeting on 28 June.
Mrs Lewsley joined the meeting at 11.20 a.m. and Mr Wilson joined it at 11.45 a.m.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 12.40 p.m.
7. Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday 26 June at 12.30 p.m.
The meeting closed at 1.09 p.m.
DANNY KENNEDY
Committee Chairman
June 2001