Students’ Union hits out at latest funding cuts by the Department of Education

The Secondary Students’ Union of Northern Ireland has called for an immediate reversal of the decision to axe the funding for schools which allows them to provide extra support such as breakfast and homework clubs, counselling and supplying books to students.

In a letter written to schools on Thursday 20th April, the Department of Education announced that from 30th June 2023 Extended Schools Programme will be no longer be available leaving thousands of young people without the necessary support. 

With these budget cuts announced just weeks after the cuts to the ‘Holiday Hunger’ payments, it is yet another disappointment in a series of blows for students and families. 

SSUNI President Eilidh O’ Connor commented “We are very disheartened to hear of yet more cuts from the Department of Education. Our students and families deserve better! At a time when people are finding it increasingly difficult, families need to be supported, not neglected.”

Following the issue of funding cuts to education, the President of the Union, which represents over 42,000 secondary students in Northern Ireland added “These cuts will undoubtedly create anxiety and pile on unnecessary pressure on the most vulnerable young people in society . Once again  students  have become  victims of the political vacuum here in Northern Ireland. SSUNI would strongly advocate that this decision is repealed.”

Thousands of students in NI rely on the services provided by the Extended Schools Programme and they are the ones who are going to suffer most. The most vulnerable children in our society are repeatedly paying the price for the Stormont Stalemate. 

We have just celebrated 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement and we must not forget that the principles of peace, prosperity and security for the people of NI are its foundation. Decisions like this undermine those principles and the young people of NI deserve better. 

SSUNI Community Relations Officer Ellen Taylor ”As we listened to the Queen’s University Conference and of course, Biden’s speech, young people were promised a brighter future. These cuts will not bring a brighter future to all our students, only emphasise a pertinent divide.”

The Union believes that this funding is essential to ensure that the promises made to us in the Good Friday agreement are not squandered and it is vital that they remain fulfilled to protect our students and young people from further unnecessary hardship.