By Robbie Meredith
BBC News NI education correspondent
“Numerous and dramatic” education cuts in Northern Ireland should be “urgently reversed”, a new report has argued.
The analysis of the consequences of the cuts has been compiled by nine academics from four universities.
It said that “short-sighted cuts” risked creating longer-term problems for children, which would increase demand for public services in future.
The authors call for for the budget to be withdrawn and policy decisions on funding to be made solely by ministers.
There have been numerous reductions in support for children as the Department of Education (DE) tries to make substantial savings.
Some school principals have recently warned that cuts to schools are “dire” and will affect support to the “most vulnerable children”.
The “rapid response” report was written by academics from Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, Stranmillis University College and Newcastle University.
“This report provides detailed analysis of the consequences of the funding reductions and lack of investment across multiple aspects of education provision in Northern Ireland,” it said.
The introduction said it is “intended to inform the general public of the cumulative impact of the ongoing cuts”.
Its aim is also “to warn public representatives, officials and the UK and Irish governments of the far-reaching societal impact of this sudden imposition of austerity measures on education provision”.
The analysis covers the impact of funding cuts on a number of areas including early years, support for children in poverty or with special educational needs, mental health support and minority ethnic children.
It also questions why “senior civil servants have been placed in the inappropriate position of having to make significant cuts to provision with little more than ambiguous advice from the Northern Ireland Office”.
Image source, PA Media
In April Chris Heaton-Harris published a budget for Northern Ireland for this financial year
It was cut by about £66m or 2.5% but the impact of inflation means the real-terms reduction is likely to be much higher.
There has also been a significant increase in demand for support in some areas, such as school places for children with special educational needs.
The programmes or initiatives cut as a result of the budget “are those that are targeted at children who are in most need and which are designed to increase access to education,” said the report.
For example, schemes like the “holiday hunger” payment provided some extra help towards food costs during school holidays to the families of about 96,000 children in Northern Ireland entitled to free school meals.
That is despite the inflationary cost of many foods being at a record high.
‘Serious consequences’
The report concluded that there would be “far-reaching and serious consequences of the cuts to the education budget”.
“Those children who are most disadvantaged will most acutely feel the pain of this budget laid down by the secretary of state,” it said.
“The authors conclude that the cuts executed will have a devastating impact on those children most vulnerable and furthest from opportunity.”
Image source, Getty Images
Experts say officials should take account of the “disproportionate” effect that cuts have on pupils from disadvantage backgrounds
The report included a number of recommendations, including that the 2023-24 Northern Ireland budget “should be withdrawn”.
It said that funding for things like the “holiday hunger” payment should be restored and funding for other schemes to help disadvantaged children increased.
The report also said that the department should take account of the “disproportionate” impact that cuts had on pupils from minority ethnic and migrant backgrounds and those living in poverty or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
But the report also calls for more oversight and “political accountability” from Westminster and the Northern Ireland secretary.
“Civil servants should not impose cuts without extensive prior consultation and explicit direction from the secretary of state on proposed departmental spending plans,” it said.
It recommended that Mr Heaton-Harris must give guidance on proposed cuts, including consultation with the Irish government and the wider public.
