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Report raises problems at school School 'failing too many pupils'
(about 9 hours later)
The Northern Ireland chief inspector of schools is expected to say vulnerable and low achieving pupils need more help in schools and training organisations. Northern Ireland's chief inspector of schools has warned too many young people are leaving school with weak literacy and numeracy skills.
Marian Matchett is due to sum up what her team of inspectors found over two school years. Marion Matchett has published a report based on inspections carried out in the past two school years by her team.
She will acknowledge the good exam results of many NI pupils but say behind them lie less positive trends. She acknowledged the good exam results of many NI pupils but warned they were also hiding "less positive trends".
Too many young people still leave school with poor reading, writing and numeracy skills, Ms Matchett will say. "Often these children have pressures which may have been unknown to a previous generation," she said.
In Belfast especially, the achievements are, she will say, unacceptably low. These included "the emerging concern of mental health problems in young people and the increasing numbers of students for whom English is not their first language", she said.
Mrs Matchett's report is the result of information gathered in almost 1,500 school inspections. We must all strive to ensure that all learners, however faltering, experience the success of which they are capable Marion MatchettNorthern Ireland's chief inspector of schools Miss Matchett said learners could reap the benefits from improved collaboration within the education, training and youth sectors.
Of major concern are the new problems of obesity, mental health problems and suicide. "Increased collaboration between schools, colleges and training providers, for example, can improve the employment prospects for young people by better equipping them with the skills they will need to succeed in the world of work," she said.
A joint approach by education, health and social services is needed to tackle them, she is expected to say. Miss Matchett praised collaborative work being done by many teachers, trainers and youth workers.
Children who arrive in Northern Ireland with poor or no English need a better support system and the inspector's report will predict even greater challenges for teachers as the number of immigrants increases. "All of us who are concerned with the quality of education, training and youth work need to join forces more effectively to meet the challenges of the future," she said.
On the issue of community relations the chief inspector is concerned at the decreasing number of schools taking part in programmes to tackle racial and religious tensions. "We must all strive to ensure that all learners, however faltering, experience the success of which they are capable."
Miss Matchett's report is the result of information gathered in almost 1,500 school inspections.