:: press release ::

Tuesday June 24, 2008

ETHOS OF STRANMILLIS SHOULD BE PROTECTED 

DUP MLA Alastair Ross has called on the Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey to ensure that the ethos of Stranmillis College is protected even if a proposed merger with Queens University does proceed.  
 

He made his comments during a debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday. Commenting, Mr Ross said,  
 

“Both Stranmillis University College and St Mary’s college are widely recognised as first class teacher training institutions, but within the context of a massive teacher surplus and falling pupil numbers there is little doubt that teacher training in Northern Ireland will have to adapt.  
 

We need to seriously question assertions from the Education Minister that she requires additional teachers in St Marys, especially given the fact that newspaper reports yesterday indicated that fewer than 40 of 800 graduate teachers got jobs in Catholic schools last year, a point actually made in the chamber this morning by Sinn Fein MLA Barry McIlduff.  
 

There will also be an impact on Stranmillis College who have already indicated that they wish to merge with QUB in the next few years. Whilst this may ultimately be the most appropriate course of action for Stranmillis, there are concerns around staffing issues, assets and the distinctive ethos of the college.  
 

Unlike Roy Beggs Jnr, who yesterday stated that he wished to see all teachers trained in the same place, I recognise that the distinctive ethos of Stranmillis and St Mary’s are very important to both sections of our society and important to preserve as much as we can.  
 

It is of paramount importance that the reform process results in what is best for teachers, students, pupils and for education as a whole in Northern Ireland.”