Department of Education (Northern Ireland)
Dublin Castle administration | |
Jurisdiction | Northern Ireland |
---|---|
Headquarters | Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, County Down, BT19 7PR |
Employees | 609 (September 2011)[1] |
Annual budget | £1,894.6 million (current) & £114.7 million (capital) for 2011–12[2] |
Minister responsible | |
Website | www.education-ni.gov.uk |
This article is part of a series within the Politics of the United Kingdom on the |
The Department of Education (DENI) (
Aim
The department's overall vision is "to ensure that every learner fulfils her or his potential at each stage of development". Its key stated priorities are: raising Standards for all; closing the performance gap, increasing access and equality; developing the education workforce; improving the "learning environment"; and transforming education management.[4]
Responsibilities
The department is responsible for the following levels of education:[5]
- pre-school
- primary
- post-primary
- special
Until 2016 the former Department for Employment and Learning was responsible for further and higher education policy in Northern Ireland.[6] Further and higher education are now the responsibility of the Department for the Economy.
The Department of Education also covers:
- youth policy
- community relations within and between schools
- teacher education and salaries
As an organisation, its key functions include advising the minister on the determination of education policy, framing legislation, accounting for the effectiveness of the education system, allocating, and monitoring and accounting for resources.
Through the Education and Training Inspectorate, it evaluates and reports on the quality of teaching and learning and teacher education.
Administration of the education system is delegated to a single combined authority, funded by the department:
Its main counterpart in the
History
A
Following a
A devolved minister took office on 2 December 1999. Devolution was suspended for four periods, during which the department came under the responsibility of
- between 12 February 2000[9] and 30 May 2000;[10]
- on 11 August 2001;[11][12]
- on 22 September 2001;[13][14]
- between 15 October 2002[15] and 8 May 2007.[16]
Since 8 May 2007, devolution has operated without interruption. On 11 January 2012, the
Its functions would be "divided principally" between the Department of Education and the
From 2 December 1999 to 25 May 2016, the department was headed by
Ministers of education
Minister | Image | Party | Took office | Left office | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Martin McGuinness | Sinn Féin | 29 November 1999 | 11 February 2000 | ||
Office suspended | |||||
Martin McGuinness | Sinn Féin | 30 May 2000 | 14 October 2002[20] | ||
Office suspended | |||||
Caitríona Ruane | Sinn Féin | 14 May 2007 | 4 May 2011 | ||
John O'Dowd | Sinn Féin | 16 May 2011 | 30 March 2016 | ||
Peter Weir | DUP | 25 May 2016 | 2 March 2017 | ||
Office suspended | |||||
Peter Weir | DUP | 11 January 2020 | 13 June 2021 | ||
Michelle McIlveen | DUP | 14 June 2021 | 27 October 2022 | ||
Office suspended | |||||
Paul Givan | DUP | 3 February 2024 | Incumbent |
Direct rule ministers
During the periods of suspension, the following ministers of the Northern Ireland Office/Education Secretaries of the British Department for Education were responsible for the department:
- George Howarth (2000)
- Jane Kennedy (2002–04)
- Barry Gardiner (2002–04)
- Angela Smith(2005–06)
- Maria Eagle (2006–07)
See also
References
- ^ "Northern Ireland Quarterly Employment Survey Historical Data". Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ "Budget 2011–15" (PDF). Department of Finance and Personnel. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ Depairtment o Leir is also used by the North/South Ministerial Council.
- ^ Northern Ireland Budget 2011–15, page 48
- ^ About the Department of Education
- ^ DEL: About the Department Archived 19 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Department for Education: About the Department
- ^ Department of Education: Functions
- ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2000
- ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000
- ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2001
- ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2001
- ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
- ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
- ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002
- ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2007
- ^ "Justice 2012 – Stormont Castle proposals". Northern Ireland Executive. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Ford says cutting Department for Employment and Learning could damage economy". Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Justice 2012 – The Way Forward". Northern Ireland Executive. 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ Office suspended for 24 hours on 11 August 2001 and 22 September 2001