UNISON EDUCATION WORKERS CONDEMN ACTION TO REMOVE THE BUDGET FOR THE EXTENDED SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

UNISON education workers meeting in emergency session have condemned action to remove the budget for the extended schools programme.

The Department of Education informed principals of the decision by letter this week. It said funding for the programme would not be available after June.

It follows the ending of Happy, Healthy Minds and Engage schemes, as well as the 'holiday hunger' allowance.

The loss of the programme, which was launched in 2006, will be a devastating blow and a further denial of support and equality of opportunity to our most vulnerable. It is yet another example of the failure of politicians to govern. The programme is being wrecked and the valuable and important work destroyed. It is shameful that these decisions are being taken without anyone being accountable.

The current absence of a budget for Northern Ireland means that civil servants are having to work on criteria set by the Northern Ireland Office who have insisted that the big hole in funding be closed at the expense of both schoolchildren and the workforce. Workers who have sustained this service with deep commitment will be the forgotten people in this whole sorry mess. We intend to speak up for them and have demanded meetings about these workers rights and entitlements. They, like the children can’t be cast on the scrap heap.

We are currently in the middle of a major consultation with our members. Budget cuts is one of the big issues in our survey. We have no doubt that our members will commit to resistance and will gather to campaign to defend our Education resources.