The announcement by Education Minister John O’Dowd that nursery and primary schools across the Waterside and rural areas of Derry will receive nearly £200,000 of additional funding in their budgets due to changes in the way schools are funded, has been welcomed by local Sinn Fein Cllr Bridget Meehan.
Cllr Bridget Meehan.
Cllr Meehan said the changes to school budgets had been brought about because her party colleague Mr O’Dowd was targeting more funding at those children in greatest need.
She added:”Research shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds don’t do as well in school as those from more affluent backgrounds.
“A child from a lower income household has only half the chance of a child from a higher income household of leaving school with the necessary level of qualifications.
“This inequality is a result of wider societal structures that are beyond the control of children or their families. Sinn Féin believes we can only begin to address this inequality and improve outcomes for all children by targeting those children in greatest need and raising their attainment levels.
“And in case people are worried that the new budget changes are ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’, you should be reassured that no school is losing money as a result of the changes.”
Cllr Meehan concluded: “With the school budget changes, Sinn Féin is ensuring that a real difference will be made to thousands of children who need our help, while at the same time ensuring that no other school loses out.”
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