27 July 2007
Northern Ireland's five education and library boards have been given a year's stay of execution after ministers decided to delay the creation of their replacement Education and Skills Authority, probably until April 2009.
The ESA will be the strategic body for schooling across the whole of Northern Ireland, set up under the Review of Public Administration. It will streamline strategic decision-making structures and produce administrative savings by being the employment body for all state-funded teachers.
A spokesman for the Belfast Education and Library Board said that the move had been expected. Frank Bunting, general secretary of the Irish National Teaching Organisation, also said it was 'not a surprise', but added that the delay should not allow any part of the schooling system to opt out of the single employment body.
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, the largest employer of teachers in Northern Ireland, is unhappy with the delay. Jim Clarke, deputy chief executive, added: 'We like the employment arrangements as they stand, but we accept that we have to adapt.'
Education Minister Caitríona Ruane said she remained committed to the reforms, but that the delay was necessary to ensure adequate scrutiny of legislation by the Assembly and its education committee.
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