Wanted: Education and Skills Authority board members
The Department of Education has launched a public competition to recruit
members to the Board of the new Education and Skills Authority (ESA).
The ESA, which will be established from 1 January 2010, will replace the five
Education and Library Boards and the functions currently performed by the
Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment and the Youth Council.
It will also take on the front-line support and related functions currently
undertaken by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, the Northern Ireland
Council for Integrated Education and Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta. Some of the
functions currently performed by the Staff Commission for the Education and
Library Boards will be absorbed into the Authority while others will no longer
be required. Some functions from within the Department of Education will also
transfer to ESA.
Education Minister Caitríona Ruane said: “The establishment of the Education and Skills Authority next January
will see the most fundamental reform of the administration of education in more
than 30 years. It is important to appoint members to the Board of the ESA who
can contribute to the education of children and young people and help deliver
the aims, objectives, targets and actions set for ESA by the Department of
Education.
“The majority of Board members will be
councillors and we will be writing to all councillors to make them aware of
this competition. The remaining Board members will be drawn from the general
public who will be invited to apply through public advertisements. In both
cases, appointments will follow interviews and selection based on merit and
will be in line with guidelines issued by the Office of the Commissioner for
Public Appointments.
“This is an exciting opportunity for
anyone who is interested in education and feels they can help improve our
education system to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”