The principal of one of two schools to be amalgamated in a shake-up of special needs services for children in the city has welcomed the initiative.
Foyleview principal Michael Dobbins.
Michael Dobbins, principal of Foyliew, was speaking after the announcement his school was to be amalgamated with Belmont House in a £7.5 million investment. Both schools are to close in August next year.
A number of parents of children at Belmont have expressed their anger at the move, announced yesterday by Northern Ireland Education Minister, John O’Dowd.
Belmont House caters for pupils with moderate learning difficulties while Foyleview caters for those with severe and with profound multiple difficulties.
Paul McChrystal, whose daughter Sarah is a pupil at Belmont House, said he was “furious” at the decision and the merger was set to fail.
He said: “Merging just doesn’t work because both schools have completely different educational needs. We spoke to the minister and the education board during the holidays and we thought they were listening to us,” he said.
“We are furious. This is a cutting exercise on the most vulnerable children in our society.”
However, Mr Dobbins said the amalgamation did not represent a cut in special needs services.
He said: “We need to be very clear about this. This is a £7.5 million investment. It is not about cuts. Myself, my board of governors and our parents would not welcome cuts to special needs in the city.”
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