By Alan Rodgers
FRESH doubts are emerging about the viability of the planned education campus in Omagh ahead of a crucial meeting on the issue tomorrow (Friday) afternoon.
The ambitious plan to relocate the post-primary schools to the former British Army barracks at Lisanelly is to come under the spotlight from local councillors. They claim that consensus on the project is not as strong as originally believed.
Councillors will be provided an update on the scheme by the Director of the Project, Hazel Jones. And it is expected that they will have further forthright discussions on the issue when she visits them tomorrow.
Speaking at Tuesday night's monthly council meeting, SDLP Omagh Town representative, Jo Deehan, hit out at the situation currently being faced by Loreto Grammar School which wants to build a new school at its current location.
She has asked the Minister of Education to reconsider a requirement on Loreto to rebuild any new school out at Lisanelly.
"This is an unfair situation for the Loreto to be faced with and it is wrong that the viability of the scheme should fall on whether or not they are included," Cllr Deehan said.
"Loreto supports the concept of the village and would be happy to utilise certain aspects, including the sports facilities. It is unjust that the decision to award them a new school should now be conditional.
"Loreto has 150 years of educational excellence and ethos built up at their current site. A new school was promised as far back as April 2004 and they should not be coerced into moving now."
Cllr Deehan said she believed a new school for Loreto Grammar would in no way detract from the educational village.
Cllr Pat McDonnell said it was worth exploring if the village would still be viable even if every school in the town was not included.
"Each school should be entitled to a new school if that is what they demanded. They should have the right to decide if it be built at Lisanelly or elsewhere," he added.
DUP councillor, Charlie Chittick said it was vital that all councillors be involved in the discussions, especially since the schools included pupils, parents and board of governors from each part of the district.
"So far, there has been a lack of consultation with local government, principals, members of the board of governors and parents," he said.
"I get the feeling that there is a degree of social engineering involved in this and we know what can happen if you attempt to push things through.
"What we really need in Omagh is third level education because at the moment thousands of pupils are having to travel, and emerge from university with huge debts hanging over them."
Cllr Seamus Shields said the current process smacked of coercion which is something that they should be resisting. He said the schools in the area had carried a reputation for educational service and excellence and that there was much about their ethos which should be retained.
But Sinn Fein councillor, Martin McColgan, defended the educational village concept, saying that the council had invested much time and effort into the project to date.
He said they needed to find out how viable the project is without the support of certain schools.
His party colleague, Declan McAleer, described the prize presented by the campus as "unprecedented."
"This idea is no threat to the individual ethos of any school. It will provide education for the 21st century and the social benefits are immense."
DUP councillor, Tom Buchanan said the idea did not seem to carry the same level of enthusiasm as was the case some time ago.
"None of the grammar schools have given any indication of whether or not they are buying into this. We need to look at this and get on with something else for the site if the campus isn't viable."
