Education spokespersons of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches have described comments made last week by the deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness as misleading, derogatory and a slur on the integrity of the transferor churches which they represent.
Mr McGuinness made his comments in a Belfast Telegraph column published last week (14 April) where, among other things, he was highly critical of the role of transferor churches in hindering educational reform.
In response the church education spokespersons have put on record their "intense disappointment at the tone and content" of the remarks and corrected "some particularly misleading comments" in a statement issued today. A full copy follows.
"Of great concern to us is the way the deputy First Minister has presented us as obstinate and rejectionist," says Rev Trevor Gribben, Presbyterian spokesperson on Education, responding to Mr McGuinness's statement that the transferor churches have rejected ten proposals for their future role in education.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," argues Mr Gribben explaining that transferors have always taken a positive and helpful attitude in their regular meetings with Sinn Fein representatives and Department officials. "Of the ten proposals, nine were rejected by the Department themselves leaving us with an unacceptable take it or leave it choice."
In their statement the church spokespersons also express "great dismay" at Mr McGuinness's description of Education and Library Board's as 'not fit for purpose.'
"This is insulting to the distinguished record of service provided by ELB's' who are committed to working towards building a much better education system for all the children of Northern Ireland," says Mr Gribben.
The statement from the church spokesmen also makes clear the transferor churches are not opposed to the principle of establishing a single Education and Skills Authority. However, the churches' demand that this must be in the context of equality for all, which has received the suppoprt of the Roman Catholic Church and other political parties, has not been satisfactorily addressed by either the Department of Education or Sinn Fein.
"We also regret the slur on our integrity by the deputy First Minister's accusation of hiding behind the slogan 'What we have we hold,'" continued Mr Gribben.
"What transferors are trying to hold on to are basic legal rights given to the protestant churches when they transferred their schools to state control. We ask for no more than the protection of the rights which other sectors enjoy. Such parity of treatment is surly part of the equality agenda that we hear so much about, especially at this election time.
"Change is needed but it has to be the right change. The transferors are committed to join with other educational partners including the Department and Sinn Fein to bring about such change which will deliver the ever improving education system that our young people deserve."
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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