Ford slams education cuts

12.00.00am GMT Tue 22nd Mar 2005

ALLIANCE South Antrim Assembly member and Party Leader David Ford has strongly criticised Education Minister Barry Gardiner after the North Eastern Education and Library Board voted for major cuts to school services under duress.

Mr Ford stated:

"The Northern Eastern Board is severely under-funded already, and these cuts to services will badly affect children's education in the area. School bus transport, building maintenance, classroom assistance, music teaching and psychological services cutbacks all mean that pupils will not receive the same standard of education until the funding problem is addressed.

"While NEELB is forced to work within the budget it is given, the Board cannot be blamed for the lowering of services and standards. That responsibility must fall on the Minister's shoulders, because at the moment he is letting down children in my constituency."