A group of young people in east Belfast have called for more support for education in youth clubs. They are members of Phoenix Education Centre, a group that aims to tackle educational underachievement in the area with a community-led approach. They maintain that school isn’t for everyone and that centres like this could help others who struggle with mainstream education.
Underachievement in education has remained “entrenched” in Northern Ireland, despite significant funding and policies to tackle it, according to former Education Minister Peter Weir.
Issues such as poverty, social class disparities, criminal recidivism and housing challenges are highly present in east Belfast, which Phoenix Education Centre is hoping to improve.
As part of the centre’s initiative, young people undergo Open College Network (OCN) classes including English and Maths, but also take part in mental health and fitness classes.
The Fair Start report was commissioned by the Department of Education and published in 2021. It said £180m should be spent over five years to tackle educational underachievement.
But the education budget for 2023-24 was cut, forcing a number of schemes aimed at children from disadvantaged areas to be axed.
Victoria Black, 18, is among the young people who have found support and mentoring in Phoenix Education Centre, as well as education and training opportunities. She said poor mental health and anxiety meant she couldn’t leave her house for two years. Now, Victoria wants to be a youth worker due to the skills she has picked up while taking part in a different style of learning.
Cameron Connolly, 19, also had difficulty with mainstream education, particularly when doing GCSEs. He said the style of teaching at Phoenix has helped him focus more and the environment is better suited to him.
Both Cameron and Victoria say that school isn’t for everyone and that these centres can help others who struggle or fall out of mainstream education.
The chief executive of Phoenix Education Centre, Emma Shaw, said the long-standing educational underachievement in working class Protestant areas is a big concern. She said the legacy of the Troubles still impacts young people today.
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