BY AUSTIN LYNCH
The Western Education Board doesn't close schools, according to its Chief Executive Barry Mulholland.
Mr Mulholland was addressing over 200 people who attended an information evening in the Killyhevlin Hotel on the future of Post-Primary education in Fermanagh.
The event, hosted by the Western Education and Library Board (WELB), followed the recent publication of the 'Pre-Consultation document on the future of Controlled/Voluntary Post-Primary Education in County Fermanagh'. It was one of two such evenings held across Fermanagh this week - the other took place in the Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea last night (Tuesday).
The purpose of these Information Evenings was to raise the public's awareness of the social and economic issues impacting on Fermanagh, and how education can support the regeneration of the area, in terms of the need for skills' retention and real investment in the economy.
Those in attendance included the Principals of all the Controlled/Voluntary Schools involved in this process as well as parents, members of Boards of Governors of Fermanagh schools, local Councillors, members of the Clergy and other interested parties.
Opening the evening Barry Mulholland, Chief Executive of the Western Board, acknowledged that this was a 'highly emotive issue which people have strong views on'. Mr Mulholland then invited John Compton, Senior Economist with PricewaterhouseCoopers, to give a presentation.
Mr Compton told the assembled audience that we, in Northern Ireland, have a 'skills dilemma'.
He explained how there are now 800,000 people working in Northern Ireland and that unemployment is at a 26 year low - at 3.7%. He compared this with 5% in the UK and a 7% (European Union) EU average.
"We have one of the youngest populations in the EU, and we have 100% broadband, with every school here having Internet access."
However, he pointed out that the public sector, retail and hospitality, accounted for over 60% of jobs here, and also that we have a 'bad' private sector with low entrepreneurial levels - 89% of local firms here employ fewer than 10 people. We also have the second lowest level of business creation of all UK regions.
John Compton said employers, therefore, found it hard to fill skilled vacancies here and, so, there was a need to both improve the performance of school leavers and a need for political stability to stimulate returnees and entrepreneurs.
He also said a total commitment to lifelong learning was needed. While the talk from Mr Compton addressed the situation across Northern Ireland, it failed to specifically deal with Fermanagh and those who listened were still no more informed about the value, or lack of it, or any of the options contained in the 'pre-consultation document'.
Barry Mulholland stressed to the meeting that there was no preferred option and that what the Western Board wanted was people to respond to this document, and to put their opinions on record.
He said he believed there was a fear that the Board had a preferred or pre-conceived option. "We do not," he stated.
"I want to put on record your views - and what the people of Fermanagh want (for the future of Controlled/Voluntary Post-Primary education in Fermanagh)."
Mr Mulholland said that they expected to send out about 3,000 documents but, in actual fact, 9,000 had been sent out to interested parties, which, he said, was very encouraging.
Those in attendance listened as Barry Mulholland stressed that this was only a 'pre-consultation exercise' and that before consultation would officially take place, the Western Board would fully engage with stakeholders.
When challenged by another member of the public about the Western Board closing schools Mr Mulholland insisted, "The Western Board doesn't close schools. We are committed to small, sustainable schools."
Mr Mulholland said that any decision to close a small school was made by the Boards of Governors and would be on the basis that the school was not sustainable.
"There comes a point when decisions are made in the interests of children's education, and these are made by Boards of Governors."
Mr Mulholland hit out at those who said the 4-14 option (where a College for 4-14 year olds would be located in Lisnaskea causing the closure of a number of smaller primary schools in the catchment area) had been insisted on by the people of Lisnaskea to give the town a chance in this process, adding that this was 'absolutely not the case'.
Another question asked was how could changes be planned when there was so much uncertainty, not least regarding the Western Education and Library Board.
Mr Mulholland explained, again, that this was a pre-consultation exercise to get the public's views. "I hope this will go to consultation in the lifetime of this Board".
Whatever the future of the Board was, he wanted the public to give their views, whether it should be one of the five options contained in the document, or some other option that hadn't yet been thought of.
Commenting on the WELB pre-consultation meetings local MLA Arlene Foster said, "I am pleased that so many people have taken time to air their views on what has taken place so far in the pre-consultation document. I think there can be no doubt that the WELB are aware of the level of feeling in this community about our children's future education".
The pre-consultation document can be downloaded from 'www.welbni.org' or by calling 028 82411411. Copies are also available from Enniskillen, Irvinestown and Lisnaskea libraries. Responses to the pre-consultation document must be received by 26th February 2008.
