Committee for Education
Welcome to the Home Page of the Committee for Education. The Committee was established to advise and assist the Minister for Education, John O’Dowd MLA, on matters within his responsibility as a Minister. The Committee undertakes a scrutiny, policy development and consultation role with respect to the Department of Education and plays a key role in the consideration and development of legislation. The Committee Chairperson is Mr Mervyn Storey.
Here you will find information about the Committee membership and the work of the Committee.
The Education Committee will meet on Wednesday 22 May at 10am when it will consider a briefing on Special Educational Need and the role and contribution of classroom assistants in improving inclusion.
The Committee will also receive an update on the progress of the establishment of the Controlled Schools Support Council. The Committee will consider a Departmental briefing on the roll-out of the Levels of Progression assessments.
The Committee will also consider, in closed session, the terms of reference for an Inquiry.
The aim of the Inquiry is to champion and celebrate the work of School Councils in Northern Ireland. It examined the experience, operation and contribution of School Councils in Northern Ireland, with a view to identifying ways to support and enhance their work. The Inquiry concluded and reported in September 2012.
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The Education Bill was introduced into the Assembly on 2 October 2012. The Bill completed its Second Stage on 15 October 2012. The Committee Stage of the Bill concluded on 8 April 2013.
The Education and Libraries (NI) Order 2003 requires the Department to draw up a Common Funding Scheme (CFS) for most grant-aided schools. The CFS is used to allocate over £1billion to schools every year. The CFS uses 16 factors to determine the allocation to individual schools. The Minister commissioned an independent panel to undertake a review of the CFS. The report on the review can be found here.
The Committee for Education reviewed the independent panel’s report; sought evidence from stakeholders; and responded to the Minister setting out its views. The feedback from stakeholders can be found here and the Committee’s response to the Minister can be found here.
Committee for Education Members at the Committee’s stakeholder event on Area Planning at Parliament Buildings on 26th September 2012.
The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education is scrutinizing the Education & Library Boards’ (ELBs’) and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools’ plans for the sustainability and viability of primary and post-primary schools. This involves the use of Viability Audits and the development of Area Plans. The Area Plans for primary schools are the subject of an ongoing consultation. The Committee has taken evidence from stakeholders and has considered advice from its Special Adviser – Professor Tony Gallagher. The Committee is also to review the work of the recently formed Area Planning Steering Group