UP TO 20 Fermanagh primary schools could be facing a year of uncertainity following proposed plans set by the Department of Education to change the way schools are funded.
Primary schools across Fermanagh could see their budgets slashed under the proposed plans which will result in less money to spend on teachers, classroom assistants and class resources.
The 17 primary schools could suffer a combined loss of £110,000, prompting fears of teacher redundancies and more school closures.
According to Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott, the primary schools that could be affected by the cuts are:
Enniskillen Model Primary by £18,195,
£2,395 for Moat Primary,
Lisbellaw PS £9,940;
Ballinamallard PS £8,895;
Irvinestown PS £8,501;
Kesh PS £8,426;
Jones Memorial PS £7,911;
Tempo No 1 PS £6,410;
Aghadrumsee Primary £5,822;
Brookeborough PS £5,619;
Maguiresbridge PS £4,214;
Florencecourt PS £4,105;
Derrygonnely PS £4,007;
Newtownbutler No 2 PS £3,771;
Lack PS £3,395;
Belleek No 2 PS £2,474;
Moat Primary PS £2,395.
The UUP MLA was speaking after it was revealed that all of Fermanagh’s controlled primary school budgets could be hit with reducing budgets following a change to the Common Funding Formula.
Mr Elliott said: “These proposed reduced budgets are supposedly based on a number of changes including a split Common Funding Formula, the removal of VAT funding from the formula and an additional £10m to be targeted at social deprivation.
“I find it preposterous given the new overall revised school budget is nearly £6m higher than what was previously planned, that the vast majority of schools not only in Fermanagh but across
Northern Ireland now stand to be hit with cuts to their projected CFF budget allocations.
“Where has all of this extra money went to and where is the money being taken away from schools being redirected to?
“Earlier this year an independent review team, led by Sir Robert Salisbury, found that the Common Funding Scheme was failing to maximise opportunity for all pupils and target educational under achievement, especially in areas of social deprivation and therefore change was needed.
“Whilst the scale of the cuts vary significantly it is inevitable that some of the schools with a smaller enrolment, which were already starting on tighter budgets, may find it a lot harder to absorb these latest cuts.”
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