Attwood provides education boost for Armagh

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood today visited St Catherine’s College in Armagh to officially re-launch the newly refurbished library and IT suite.

The new facilities offer opportunities for students and the local community to learn IT skills, enjoy the benefits of the latest computer equipment and provides a modern setting which encourages study.

Alex Attwood said: “Improving education is a key to tackling the spiral of deprivation in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. Too many people continue to experience barriers to employment because of a lack of education and qualifications and wider conditions of deprivation. I am determined to remove these barriers and particular those that fall to my department. To do so Ministers need to work together and work with the community.”

The state of the art IT suite and refurbishment was funded by the Department for Social Development (DSD) at a cost £64,000. It is part of an overall package of DSD funded initiatives covering the eight primary and post primary schools within the Armagh NRA at a cost of almost £600,000. The initiatives involve:

• early intervention in schools to assist children in numeracy and literacy;
• the provision of support for families to allow them to take a more active involvement in their children’s education;
• the establishment of out of hours learning opportunities such as homework and summer clubs; and
• the employment of two youth outreach workers to engage with hard to reach young people.

Underpinning this work is a programme of capital works which includes the provision of computers and interactive white boards.

Minister Attwood said: “This is a major programme of measures which span the entire spectrum of education from nursery, to primary, to secondary and right through to adult learning. It is a clear demonstration of my commitment towards tackling disadvantage and inequality in areas of deprivation. I would like to pay tribute to all those involved in the project including the Southern Education and Library Board, the eight local schools and the Armagh Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Board.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society.
2. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has four interlinking strategic objectives:
   - Community Renewal - to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.
   - Economic Renewal - to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy.
   - Social Renewal - to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.
   - Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
3. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.