The programme, part of a wider funding package, represents an
investment of £20million over the next two years, with potential for
further funding.
Welcoming the investment, the Minister said: “I welcome this
significant programme of investment which will contribute greatly in our
efforts to remove the barriers that prevent many of our children and
young people from engaging in learning and further our work to forge
strong partnerships between schools, families and communities.
“Schools are the bedrock of our education system and we must
work in partnership with families, the local community and other
influencers to ensure every child is happy, learning and succeeding.”
The investment in the RAISE initiative is part of a wider
co-operation programme on addressing educational underachievement
supported through the Shared Island Fund. Other strands incorporating
creativity in schools and teacher exchange are still under development.
Welcoming the investment being made by the Department of the
Taoiseach and the Department of Education in the Republic of Ireland,
the Minister added: “The link between socio-economic
disadvantage and educational attainment is not unique to Northern
Ireland. It is common across the world, including the Republic of
Ireland.
“The Shared Island Funding provides an opportunity for new
approaches to be taken in Northern Ireland that may aid policy
development in both countries for the benefit of all learners.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our respective countries
to learn from each other’s effective practices and this new funding
will be used to support many thousands of learners across Northern
Ireland for a long time to come.”
The Department of Education (Northern Ireland) will have responsibility for the delivery of the funded programmes.
Work will now commence on the design and implementation of the programme with a formal launch in the coming months.
