Derry schoolgirl begins legal challenge to allocation of RAISE funding by Education Minister

A judicial review by a Derry schoolgirl challenging Education Minister Paul Givan’s allocation of Raising Achievement in Integrated Schools and Education (RAISE) Programme funding, will begin at the High Court in Belfast this morning.

The RAISE Programme is an initiative which aims to raise achievement and reduce educational disadvantage.

The girl is one of two young people challenging the selection methodology used by the Department of Education and the Minister of Education to identify localities and specific Super Output Areas in which to operate the RAISE Programme.

They are also challenging the methodology used for the selection of RAISE Cross-Cutting Initiatives and the criteria used for determining which schools ought to be eligible for inclusion under the RAISE Cross-Cutting Initiatives.
discrimination

Their legal team will argued the RAISE Programme’s criteria discriminate against girls and Catholics.

Nichola Harte, solicitor, acting for the two child applicants, said: "This is an important legal challenge for all school children and across all areas of Northern Ireland.

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“The purpose of the challenge is to ensure transparency in the selection process for funding purposes. Schools in Northern Ireland are in financial crisis at both primary and secondary levels.

“Any allocation of resources under the RAISE program must be fair, transparent. The High Court granted leave for careful judicial scrutiny of the methodology of the program is lawful."

The two applicants are represented by solicitors Nichola Harte of Harte Coyle Collins, Solicitors & Advocates, Belfast, with senior barrister Karen Quinlivan KC and junior barrister Aidan McGowan BL.