Union to take importance of education message to Stormont

At an event at Stormont, the UCU – supported by the Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) and the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) – will present statistics that detail how Northern Ireland continues to lag behind the rest of the UK when it comes to educational success.
 
UCU members will be joined by Sue Ramsay, Chair of the Employment & Learning Committee, at 2:30pm in the Long Gallery at Stormont. The Make education count campaign is a UK-wide initiative. Events have already taken place in Westminster and the Welsh and Scottish assemblies.
 
The initiative was born from UCU's 'Location, Location, Location' report, which showed that where you live still impacts on educational attainment, employment chances and life opportunities. That report with specific findings can be found at: Location, location, location.
 
UCU regional official Jim McKeown said: 'The Make Education Count campaign is quite simply about equality and access. Educational profiles for Northern Ireland's 18 political constituencies indicate that where you live in Northern Ireland affects your educational outcomes. UCU – supported by UTU and INTO – wants to work with political representatives to address these educational imbalances and inequalities at a local level.
 
'With a general election on the horizon, and assembly elections likely next year, UCU is encouraging politicians and their parties to ensure that education – from pre-school to post-retirement, takes priority in their manifestos.
 
'If Northern Ireland is to have a secure, stable and sustainable future, then investment in education from cradle to grave will be absolutely vital, which is precisely why we're asking our government and elected representatives to play their part in making education count in Northern Ireland.'

Make Education Count: constituency profiles for further and higher education in Northern Ireland [120kb]