Education Authority Chief Executive Pays Tribute to Education and Youth Service Staff

 In doing so, he has also expressed his disappointment at inaccurate narratives that portray all public services and employees as always failing.

 In an end of year message, Richard Pengelly said: 

“This is undoubtedly a very difficult time for education and for public services generally.

“Funding pressures are increasingly severe, while demand in key areas continues to grow. There is a clear onus on us all to deliver much-needed improvements in services and also to make difficult decisions on spending priorities.

“At the same time, I see every day the commitment of so many people to do their absolute best for children, young people and schools.

“I see it constantly in schools at all levels and across our Youth Service and the Education Authority more generally, with the many school-related services it provides.

“I want to highlight and acknowledge all this work, and its importance to the community we serve.  In this context, I also want to express my disappointment with, and push back against, those simplistic and unfair narratives that portray all public services and employees as always failing.

“I do not seek to suggest we get things right every time – but we certainly do so many, many more times than we get it wrong.  To suggest otherwise is both inaccurate and unfair to those colleagues who care passionately about their work.

“The reality is that alongside all the pressures and the areas for improvement, staff across education and youth services are delivering a very wide range of absolutely crucial services.”

The Education Authority is running a new social media awareness campaign to highlight the vital contribution its staff makes to schools and the local community.

The “EA EveryDay” campaign details the wide range of services the organisation provides in support of children and young people. This includes highlighting key services that enable schools to function and children to learn. For example: 

• We support over 348,000 children and young people in schools.
• EA Youth Service provides informal education and youth programmes to over 226,800 young people across Northern Ireland aged 4 to 25.
• We arrange transport assistance for 91,000 pupils every day, including more than 10,000 children with Special Educational Needs.
• EA's Catering Service provides 160,000 school meals a day.
• We employ over 49,300 staff working across the wide spectrum of education and youth services.