North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew has today (Thursday 13 March) welcomed almost £0.5 million that will be invested in children’s education across Ballymena.
A number of local school will receive a share of £481,225 as part of the Department of Education’s RAISE programme - an initiative jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government.
The RAISE programme is designed to target educational underachievement linked to economic disadvantage.
Commenting Frew stated:
“The RAISE Programme provides an important opportunity to look afresh at the educational issues caused by deprivation and the barriers to learning and educational achievement that some of our children and young people are facing.
“The Programme will deliver a range of education support measures to help address educational underachievement and tackle educational disadvantage through a whole community and place-based approach
“This funding will be utilised directly by communities to support the implementation of Strategic Area Plans and the proposed interventions that are needed to support children and young people and tackle educational disadvantage within each locality.
“I am grateful for the engagement of the department officials and the local area manager of the RAISE Scheme here in Ballymena and I wish them well in their worthwhile endeavours “