2013-10-21 11:29:47 +0100
To: Education Minister, John O’Dowd
Don't reduce funding to my local primary school.
Dear Minister,
As a parent I'd like you to reconsider your plans to reduce funding at my local school. I understand that your focus is on fairness, pupils first and social deprivation, but currently children in receipt of free school meals also receive at least an additional 33% in funding and free uniforms. Please do not sacrifice the education of 81% of Northern Ireland schools with a proposal to inject more money into schools where there is no evidence that money alone will improve their educational performance.
Why is this important?
Currently funding is weighted on a per pupil basis where children identified as socially deprived receive considerably more funding and additional funding benefits (free school dinners & free uniforms).
Under proposed changes the minister will reduce the per pupil funding at 81% of schools across Northern Ireland and reallocate the funds to socially deprived children.
This will affect the budget schools have to operate with and put more pressures on PTA's and fundraising activities to close the already existing funding gap at schools.
There is a lack of evidence to support the assertion that increases to funding of socially deprived children will improve their educational performance.
