O’Dowd calls for collaboration

Education Minister John O’Dowd is calling for more collaboration to meet the challenges facing Northern Ireland’s schools. He said that a good education is “central to the success of any society”.

Addressing delegates attending the National Association of Head Teachers annual conference in Newcastle, the Sinn Féin Minister commented that many transformational leaders across the education sector are “inspiring positive change and helping young people to succeed.”

With exam results improving, O’Dowd paid tribute to the “highly motivated and dedicated” teaching workforce.  In the school year 2013-14, 65.2 per cent of year 12 pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C, an increase of 4.3 per cent on the previous year’s results.

“The focus on literacy and numeracy is paying off and standards across our schools are rising,” he said.  He thanked teachers for their dedication, particularly during a difficult financial environment.

O’Dowd concluded: “Unfortunately, this position is set to continue which will mean difficult times ahead and while I will do all in my power to make the case for education, the challenge for all of us – politicians, trade unions and the teaching profession – is to work together and plan for the years.”