Education: principals tell ‘indecisive and out of touch’ Minister he should resign
A LONDONDERRY principal said the Education Minister is out of his depth and has suggested it is time he was replaced.
A lack of faith in the DUP Minister has been voiced by the principals of Lisnagelvin and Drumahoe primary schools who have criticised the failure of Peter Weir to consult with schools over key decisions affecting pupils, parents and staff.
Lisnagelvin principal Colin Torrens said he is “flabbergasted” at the incompetence at Stormont.
“The other three administrations (Scotland, Wales and England) are able to come out straight away and say what is happening but that didn’t happen in Northern Ireland,” he said.
“This panic to close schools didn’t happen yesterday, they have known about this for three weeks but the one consistent thread has been the lack of decision making, which is shocking.
“I am just flabbergasted that we have such incompetent people running our country. There is certainly nothing going on there (Stormont) that instils confidence in me going forwards.
“Whether or not our Education Minister is solely responsible, I can’t say — but I do think he is out of touch with what is going on on the ground.
“I think he is out of his depth and I think it is time that either another party or another Education Minister had a go because it is myself and colleagues like me who are having to manage his indecision.”
Terry Mcmaster, principal of Drumahoe Primary said throughout the pandemic planning process, schools had not be listened to, nor had concerns been addressed in a timely manner.
One such instance was the 11th hour announcement that the transfer test scheduled for this weekend would not go ahead.
Yesterday it was decided they would not.
“I think all along, it should have been the Department of Education that said to the two private companies who run the transfer test, ‘You are not using the schools, we have closed the schools because it goes against the advice of the chief medical officer and the chief scientific officer’.
“I think that schools have not really been listened to which is a pity because they know the needs of the children best and the needs of the parent but they have not been consulted enough in the process.”
The Department of Education said it “has worked throughout the pandemic to maintain the education of children, to reduce the risk of outbreaks and to respond when these occur”.
“As a result of the current public health situation, all primary and secondary schools will provide remote education. The situation will be kept under ongoing review dependent on public health advice,” a spokesperson said.
“The Minister stressed that these decisions were not made lightly as he is aware of the negative impact on children’s learning and mental health and well-being of not being in school.”
On the late postponement of the transfer test, the spokesperson said Mr Weir “has previously written to selective schools to advise them to ensure that contingency admissions criteria are in place in the event that entrance tests cannot be operated”.
Criticism: