THIS HOUSE BELIEVES EDUCATION COMES FIRST, SAYS THE UTU

The Ulster Teachers’ Union is backing plans for an Education Manifesto ahead of the Assembly elections in May.
The UTU said it needed to ensure that education was at the top of the agenda for all political parties.

The union’s General Secretary Avril Hall Callaghan warned that pupils would suffer most as a result of "damaging cutbacks".
The Manifesto for Education is expected to be launched by the wider teaching profession later in the Spring.

Ms Hall Callaghan said: "With the current financial crisis and the deep cuts to public spending, it is vitally important that we make a stand to let the politicians know that continuing attacks on our education system cannot be tolerated.

“We want our politicians to make a commitment to deliver the best for Northern Ireland education.

"Education is vital to the future success of Northern Ireland, and only by continuing to invest in our young people by providing the best educational opportunities can we secure the province's future prosperity in an increasingly competitive global economy.

"We cannot allow the continuing decimation of our education system in order to pay the bill for a publicly funded bail-out of banks.

"In this next election race, it will be the candidates who win the hearts and minds of teachers, parents and students that we believe will be best placed to serve Northern Ireland."