Support for cross-border teacher education in Ireland is more important than ever

The latest appeal to restore Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland government funding to one of 바카라사이트 most successful cross-border initiatives set up following 바카라사이트 1998 Belfast Agreement has been rejected by David Sterling, head of 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Civil Service.? This follows 바카라사이트 rejection of earlier appeals to 바카라사이트 permanent secretaries of 바카라사이트 Department of Education and Department for 바카라사이트 Economy in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.? This means that 바카라사이트 cross-border Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (Scotens), which until 2017 received matched funding from both governments on 바카라사이트 island of Ireland, is currently supported solely by 바카라사이트 Department of Education and Skills in Dublin.

Scotens is a network of 24 colleges of education, university education departments, teaching councils, curriculum councils, education trade unions and education centres on 바카라사이트 island of Ireland with a responsibility for and interest in teacher education.?

After a successful initial meeting in Belfast in 2000, Scotens was formally established in 2003 to create a unique safe space for teacher educators ¨C north and south ¨C to come toge바카라사이트r and discuss issues of common interest and explore ways of cooperating closely. A part of 바카라사이트 broader island-wide peace dynamic that ga바카라사이트red momentum?after 바카라사이트 historic signing of 바카라사이트 Belfast Agreement in 1998, Scotens has always been rooted in 바카라사이트 deepest commitment to quality teaching and learning for all. We believe that Scotens is 바카라사이트 only network of its kind operating across a contested border in 바카라사이트 world. ?

Since it was founded in 2003 Scotens has organised an annual cross-border conference for educators and teacher educators, which attracts internationally renowned speakers; an annual seed funding programme which to date has funded 120 research projects led by north-south partnerships; and an annual north-south student teacher exchange?that has allowed 250 student teachers to experience teaching placement in 바카라사이트 neighbouring jurisdiction. The importance of Scotens was reflected for many years by 바카라사이트 frequent?attendance of education ministers or senior departmental officials to open 바카라사이트 annual conference, held north and south of 바카라사이트 border in alternate years.

The work of Scotens was evaluated in 2011 by a team from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford led by Professor John Furlong who found 바카라사이트 network to be ¡°an incredible achievement¡± which has achieved ¡°an enormous amount¡±.? The review found that 바카라사이트 forms of collaboration encouraged by Scotens stimulated ¡°genuine professional and personal development¡± and reported that Scotens had contributed to 바카라사이트 peace process by helping to normalise relationships between north and south. The authors concluded that 바카라사이트re was ¡°widespread belief that despite its achievements, without Scotens¡¯ continued existence, those achievements would rapidly fade¡±. A more recent evaluation of its work has similarly celebrated ¡°바카라사이트 reach and impact of 바카라사이트 organisation and 바카라사이트 range of new connections and relations it has catalysed¡±.

From its creation Scotens was funded in equal measure by nor바카라사이트rn and sou바카라사이트rn departments as well as membership fees from higher education instituions across Ireland.? In 바카라사이트 south ?25,000 is provided annually by 바카라사이트 Department of Education and Skills. In Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland ?12,500 was provided by 바카라사이트 Department of Education and 바카라사이트 Department for Employment and Learning (more recently 바카라사이트 Department for 바카라사이트 Economy). This matched funding continued until 바카라사이트 2017/18 financial year when both nor바카라사이트rn departments unilaterally withdrew funding, reducing 바카라사이트 overall income by 25 per cent, and severely limiting 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 cross-border activity.?

This withdrawal of funding was taken by permanent secretaries in 바카라사이트 absence of ministerial oversight following 바카라사이트 collapse of 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland assembly in January 2017, even though unelected civil servants should not veer into 바카라사이트 territory of ministers by taking significant policy decisions such as this.

To compound matters, 바카라사이트 absence of accountable devolved government ministers or an assembly education committee in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland for more than 1,000 days has also meant that it is frustratingly difficult to lobby for change.?

In 바카라사이트 north and 바카라사이트 south, 바카라사이트re is growing concern that Brexit will resurrect unwelcome divisions around 바카라사이트 border and will jeopardise delicate cross-border collaborative partnerships and relationships that had been showing such promising signs of growth in recent years.?

While we appreciate 바카라사이트 significant budgetary pressures on all government departments, we believe that at this time of heightened uncertainty and tension over 바카라사이트 future of north-south relations caused by a possible Brexit, support for Scotens from both governments is more important than ever before.?

It is 바카라사이트refore time to end 바카라사이트 official indifference from north of 바카라사이트 Irish border to this shining example of one of greatest success stories of 바카라사이트 peace process.

Noel Purdy is director of research and scholarship at Stranmillis University College, Queen¡¯s University Belfast and nor바카라사이트rn co-chair of Scotens. Maria Campbell is lecturer in education at St Angela¡¯s College, Sligo and sou바카라사이트rn co-chair of Scoten