More problems over P1 places for local kids

MORE evidence has emerged this week of problems facing parents in finding P1 places for their children in primary schools across Lisburn.

Last week the Star reported the difficulties being faced by parents in the Moira area who are struggling to secure a P1 place for their child.

The Star was contacted by a number of parents this week who are experiencing the same problems in the urban areas of the city, including Lisburn city centre and Dunmurry.

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A mother who had hoped her son would attend a Catholic school in Lisburn city centre was disappointed to learn the school was oversubscribed. She is now trying to find another school for her son, but is concerned about the impact this choice will have on family life.

“Our first choice school provides facilities during school holidays, which are essential to us as working parents,” she explained.

“Now, we are concerned that my husband will have to change his shift patterns so that he can look after our son during the day and I will look after him at night. It means the three of us will never be together as a family. There is no help for working parents and we don’t know where to turn.”

Another mother from the Dunmurry area was distressed to learn that her son could not be placed in any of her first five choices of schools in the Dunmurry and Lisburn areas.

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She has written to the Minister for Education to explain the difficulties faced by parents in the area and has urged him to address the situation.

In the letter to the Minister, John O’Dowd, she said: “We would like to ask if any plans are in place to address the problems accessing primary school next year in the Dunmurry area.

“We are having great difficulty getting our eldest daughter into any of the schools in the Dunmurry area as they are seriously oversubscribed.

“Would there be any plans to increase number of classes in these schools to address this problem as we are very concerned about where we will be able to get a school place for our daughter?” she added.

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Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, together with colleagues Jonathan Craig MLA and Brenda Hale MLA, who both serve on the Stormont Education Committee, will meet with the Education Minister on Monday (March 26) to raise the concerns of parents.