A time to talk… & a time to act Andy Brown reports on the ‘PCI Talks Education’ conference.
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n a windswept Saturday morning at the end of January, 120 delegates and guests braved the weather and the opening up of Covid restrictions to attend ‘PCI Talks Education: A vision for the future in Northern Ireland’. The conference was attended by Presbyterians with an interest and experience in education, ranging from those beginning their teaching career to those who have retired; from teachers to principals to governors to those working in strategic, administrative and policy shaping roles within education. Also present were PCI ministers, along with partners and stakeholders from the teaching colleges, unions, sectoral support bodies and the world of politics.
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Herald May 2022
It is right for Presbyterians to consider our role in education, thinking about what we do, why we do it and how we do it – and perhaps how we do it better. This desire to constantly re-evaluate, along with the current Independent Review of Education, makes now a perfect time to do this. We as a Church need to reaffirm our place within the educational system – supporting and participating in education has been part of the DNA of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
…what schools need is tangible and unconditional support from churches.
for over a century. Our Church’s history in education is undeniable and enviable, having formed schools in our quest for social justice and a desire to make education accessible. Then as now, it is also our desire for children and young people to flourish, reaching their full potential in a nurturing and holistic way. The conference was opened by the Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen MLA. Commending the role of PCI and the impact our work has on the world of education, she reminded attendees that, “The education of our children and young people goes far beyond the Department of Education, or even schools and colleges. It requires the dedication of teachers, governors, parents and many more. The support of local churches, such
