The Progressive Unionist Party have carried out consultations within the community and with each of the school bodies affected by proposed changes in education to the current Dickson Plan. We would agree that there is an overwhelming consensus in the community and from the educationalists for retention of the Dickson Plan and we are in full support of this. We are also in agreement with our community in the expressed wish to retain a form of grammar education within the realm of any proposed change. It is clear though that consensus on how this is achieved is open for debate. We have seen and been involved in various campaigns being run in support of retaining Dickson. There are issues which are not being highlighted and which need to be properly addressed before moving forward with any change. The issue of why Craigavon Senior High School should move to a location somewhere in Craigavon needs properly addressed and a case for this option plainly laid out. Our communities in Lurgan and Portadown wish to see their children educated within the respective towns. We also believe that Portadown and Lurgan should be addressed separately in relation to any proposed change. There are different issues and deciding factors relevant to each town and as such cannot be resolved on a Craigavon wide basis. Our primary concern is that our community are not receiving all of the information to allow them to make informed judgement. Simply stating slogans such as save the Dickson Plan will not resolve anything. Driving an agenda based primarily on behalf of the grammar sector of the Dickson Plan will not provide best outcomes for all of the children in our community. All options must be opened up for debate. We will be releasing a document for public discussion on our social media and website by close of this week. We would also call on the SELB and the Department of Education to allow our communities the space and time to reach informed consensus on the way forward. John Stevenson Progressive Unionist Party Mid Ulster Branch Association
Posted on: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 08:17:23 +0000
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