Failed funding model could mean the axe for rural schools in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, says Armstrong
Fears that rural schools in Fermanagh and South Tyrone could face the axe, following the Department of Education's latest announcement on school funding, have been expressed by Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA.
Mrs Armstrong said the announcement has further exacerbated the challenges facing rural communities and is already causing real concerns amongst families.
"This is a rural constituency where country schools are the heartbeat of the local community, providing not just a learning environment, but enshrining a place of identity, belonging and community cohesion,” she continued.
“For these small schools, the funding model is not working. More schools than ever are genuinely afraid that they could be closed amidst already tight budgets. Smaller schools require funding now more than ever, as every rural school that closes is a fresh blow to the choice of rural parents to send their children to local schools that have often been part of that family’s identity for generations.
“In recent years we have seen a renewed focus on the challenges facing rural communities, yet this announcement sends entirely the wrong signal. If we are serious about sustaining rural life, then we must ensure that rural schools are properly supported and allowed to thrive.”
She added: “Parents should not be forced into longer journeys or fewer choices because of a funding formula that fails to recognise the unique circumstances facing rural schools. Furthermore, with the advent of working-from-home arrangements, many families are living in the countryside without the requirement of travelling into the bigger towns for work, making it all the more important that rural schools are supported.”