May 19, 2019, BBC: Bishop Ken Good warns NI education 'beyond crisis' https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-48323424 Education in Northern Ireland is "beyond crisis," a Church of Ireland bishop has said. The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Right Reverend Ken Good, made his comments in a speech on Saturday at the Church's general synod. "Little is happening to prevent the fabric of our education system from unravelling," he said…. His speech came only days after more than 500 school principals warned that pupils were suffering due to the ongoing political stalemate. 'Declining morale' He told the synod that a number of dangers were threatening to "undermine and even destabilise the whole school system". These included a lack of vision, lack of money and declining morale among both staff and school governors. He said that schools were facing a number of serious problems including more children with mental health issues and an increasing number of pupils who needed support for special educational needs. … "The education system in Northern Ireland is in financial crisis too. "The squeeze is becoming more and more serious and the consequences are becoming more and more hazardous." … He also said that the main Protestant churches and Roman Catholic trustees were still working towards creating some jointly-managed church schools. However, he warned that the problems in education meant that a generation of pupils were being failed. "The long-term picture is not healthy and we need to see action now to build a better future for our children and young people," he said.

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