Education Minister has welcomed today's High Court
judgment dismissing legal challenges to the Department's
methodology for allocating funding under the RAISE Programme.
The RAISE Programme aims to raise educational achievement and
reduce educational disadvantage through a whole community,
place-based approach.
The Court found that the Department acted lawfully and rationally
in developing a Northern Ireland-wide, place-based approach to
funding, using objective indicators of educational need.
said: “I welcome the Court's
clear and comprehensive judgment that affirms the Department's
approach to delivering the RAISE programme. This initiative is a
key part of our commitment to reducing educational disadvantage
and improving outcomes for children and young people across
Northern Ireland.
“The judgment confirms that the methodology adopted, shortlisting
areas based on multiple deprivation measures and prioritising
those with the lowest levels of GCSE attainment, was consistent
with the programme's purpose and policy intent.”
The Minister continued: “Today's judgment provides certainty and
allows the Department to move forward to the next stage and begin
to release funding to locality-led projects under the RAISE
Programme.
“This funding will not only help raise aspirations and
achievement, but it will also enable communities to take a fresh
look at the challenges caused by deprivation and work
collectively to overcome them.”
The RAISE funding will support projects that promote educational
excellence, raise standards, increase pupil attendance, and
improve pathways for learners which motivate and support learners
at risk of underachievement.
Notes to editors:
1. Letters of Offer will be agreed with the Department and the
relevant organisations in the coming weeks.
2. The Locality Led Projects deliver against a series of
objectives set out in the Strategic Area Plans and which formed
the basis of a call process which was opened on 5 September and
closed on 6 October.
3. The RAISE Programme is in receipt of €20m from the Government
of Ireland's Shared Island Initiative.
