The Secretary of State’s proposals for the Review of Public Administration herald the most significant changes in the history of Public Service in Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State’s proposals for the Reform of Public Administration herald the most significant changes in the history of Public Service in Northern Ireland.
The proposals for the Reform of Education Administration not only present real opportunities for a more effective, efficient and coherent system of administration, but also pose the education partnership with a number of significant challenges, in terms of the timescales set out and the magnitude of the changes proposed. Of real concern however, is the inherent diminution of the role of Trustees and the impact which this will have for the distinctive ethos which permeates our Catholic schools. Indeed, the proposals as outlined, which create a single employer for teachers in all school sectors, and a school planning process, which does not fully respect the rights of school providers, go far beyond a review of administrative processes.
In brief, the proposals, which provide for a Department of Education dealing with strategy, planning and finance; an ETI whose role will be enhanced and extended, and a Regional Authority which will have children as its central focus, are very much in line with CCMS thinking.
Critically, however, the establishment of a Single Employing Authority for all Sectors explicitly undermines the distinctive ethos of Catholic education which is so dependent upon the capacity of Catholic schools to recruit teachers who are committed to the values of Catholic education, and qualified to teach in Catholic schools.
In addition, the lack of clarity concerning the management of the Trustees’ role in school planning, ethos development, formulation and articulation of policy, in respect of the management of Catholic schools, is an issue which the Trustees quite rightly wish to be addressed as a matter of urgency. It is not immediately obvious to me that these matters can be managed within the Regional Authority and therefore some agreement to the provision of professional support for the Trustees is required.
Also, by virtue of placing the management of school ownership (Controlled Sector) and service delivery within the Regional Body, the RPA proposals explicitly create an unequal partnership within the new proposed structures and as such will be subject to challenges on equality grounds.
These concerns aside, the RPA proposals provide a unique opportunity to develop a much more coherent, equitable, efficient and effective administrative framework to support our children, young people, parents and teachers. It will be incumbent upon Department of Education to engage with the Education Partnership to ensure that the experience, knowledge and vision of those currently delivering services is fully utilised. Clearly there is also an opportunity to look at new and more effective modes of delivery, delegating more responsibility to schools and developing performance indicators which will ensure better value.
Coming at a time when other major changes are planned for Education i.e. New Curriculum, Post-Primary Review and Management of Demographic Decline, the great danger is the interim period between now and 2008 when the main challenge is to ensure that the focus and energies of staff remain fixed on providing support to school management.
Yes RPA does present a unique opportunity to streamline the education system and remove the wastage of the ELB'S. However are we to believe that this Government are committed to protecting the ethos and values within Catholic Education? Interested to see!
Surely this is sour grapes on the part of CCMS? The RPA presents us with a great opportunity to remove the nonsense we have had of 5 boards and ccms. About time this happened.
Are the Government so short-sighted to believe that diminishing CCMS role will ultimately lead to a better educational environment. I think not!