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The Orange Order committee with responsibility for educational
affairs has expressed serious concerns over the proposals
to merge Stranmillis University College with Queen's University.
The Committee says it has been approached by representatives
of the staff and students at the college and as a result has
met with them to hear their views.
Unionist MLAs from the Stormont Assembly committee with responsibility
for third level education were also invited to the meeting
and Jim Allister of the TUV and Sandra Overend of the UUP
did so, with others apologising.
Now the committee says it wants to meet the Democratic Unionist
Party as the largest unionist party to discuss the party's
position on the merger.
A spokesman for the Committee for Educational Affairs said
"Issues which were raised at our committee include the
Christian ethos of Stranmillis, which will undoubtedly change
with the merger and the eventual future of the campus. We
have serious concerns about this issue and remain disappointed
that we were not included in the list of consultees, as a
major stakeholder in society,"
The spokesman said that following representation to the Minister
responsible, Stephen Farry, the Order has now been in included
in future lists of consultees.
The Educational Affairs Committee said that it was particularly
concerned that the Protestant Churches had given their approval
to the merger, despite the fact that it will change the ethos
of teacher training in Northern Ireland.
"St. Mary's Training College remains unaffected by plans
to streamline teacher training and made a submission on the
consultation as did the Transferor Representatives Council,
which represents Protestant Churches," said the spokesman.
Submissions were also made by Banbridge District Council,
the Equality Commission, Community Relations Council, NIPSA,
Queen's University, Stranmillis itself, the Ulster Teacher's
Union, the University College Union and the Women's Forum
in Northern Ireland. There were also 52 individual submissions.
Staff at Stranmillis have told the committee that an economic
deficit is being turned around and recent initiatives are
producing results, including having a large group of Chinese
principals visit the college.
TUV leader Jim Allister told the committee of his concerns
about the scheme and expressed his opposition to it, while
the UUP is to inform the Committee of its position.
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