Launch of Education Reform in Northern Ireland – A Human Rights Review

The Human Rights Commission will today issue a comprehensive human rights review of education in Northern Ireland.

NIHRC Chief Commissioner’ Professor Michael O’Flaherty commented:

‘Today’s report highlights a number of successes over recent years’ the evidence finds that human rights frameworks have increasingly became embedded in Northern Ireland’s education policy. It outlines the ways children and young people’s views have been sought in shaping their education. The Commission welcomes and encourages such good practices to continue.

The report also identifies areas where improvement could be made in order to translate this human rights policy into practice’ including recommendations; to ensure that forthcoming changes to Special Educational Needs provision protects the rights of children in need of additional support; for the Department of Education to assume responsibility for children in detention so they have access to the full curriculum; resolution on unregulated transfer tests’ to address the known stress caused to both children and parents because of this situation. ‘

The report’s lead author’ Professor Laura Lundy added:

‘Northern Ireland’s education system is undergoing significant changes. It is important that these reforms meet international human rights standards and ensure that every child has access to an effective education in an environment which respects their rights. ‘

Ends

Further information:

For further information please contact Claire Martin on: (028) 9024 3987.

Notes to editors

1.The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body first proposed in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement (1998) and established in 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act (1998). It is answerable to Parliament at Westminster.

2.Researchers from the Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s University Belfast were commissioned by Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to produce the report.

3.The report will be launched on Monday 8 April at Queen’s University Belfast.

4.The event will include the following presentations:

Opening address NIHRC Chief Commissioner Prof Michael O’Flaherty

Senior Government Official of Department of Education

Overview of report Director the Centre for Children’s Rights Prof Laura Lundy

Panel discussion Chaired by Children’s Law Centre

The Rainbow Project

Amnesty International

National Deaf Children’s Society

5. Access the full report below: