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11 November 2011

Families and communities living in rural and urban areas are being urged to make their voices heard via a series of public events exploring the best way forward for local schools. “Our Children – Their Education” brings local people and educationalists together with elected representatives to explore how the education system might be designed to meet the challenges of budget cuts and a rapidly changing world.

The first meeting in the series, at Corick House Hotel, Clogher, Co Tyrone, on Thursday 17 November from 6.30 – 9.30 pm will consider what a good school is; look at ways in which collaboration and sharing between schools can lead to better education opportunities, and discuss how parents can have a say in the future of schools in their area. A light tea will be served from 6.00 pm.

The event is jointly hosted by Rural Community Network, STEP (South Tyrone Empowerment Programme) and the Integrated Education Fund and being chaired by BBC presenter, William Crawley. Representatives from the Southern Education and Library Board and CCMS will participate in the panel discussion - to include John Burrell, former principal of Fivemiletown College, and Eamon McClean from the Speedwell Trust.

Michael Hughes, Chief Executive of Rural Community Network, says “Schools are crucial to rural communities and this event is a great chance for local people to engage in conversation about how schools can co-operate to deliver the best service for local children.    Who better to come up with creative and practical ways of meeting the needs of rural areas than the experts – rural people?   I’d encourage anyone to come and listen, think and talk at this event, and contribute to shaping the way forward for young people in their own area.”

Bernadette McAliskey, Director of STEP, added  “These are challenging times which create spaces for creative thinking.  People need to meet and exchange views and ideas out of which I can foresee sharing education will take root and grow.  We should not be fearful about sharing the future, as long as we participate fully in shaping it. If we do not, it will be developed without us, sold to us fully grown.”

From these events there is the potential to involve communities in planning and delivering new models of education, empowering parents to influence how schools are provided and to hold politicians to account over planning and budgets.

Tina Merron, Chief Executive of the Integrated Education Fund says “There are many decisions to be made over how the schools system is run and how budgets are shared; parents should realise they have a say in this. We’d like to see an overall examination of the education system with area-based planning and voters’ voices heard – and the response to these events gives an indication that people are ready to take on the challenge and get involved in these decisions.”   

Please register with Teresa McKernan at Rural Community Network on 028 8676 6670 or email teresa@ruralcommunitynetwork.org