Education - Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Leslie Cree MLA

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	10/02/2010 North Down MLA's praise work of Macmillan Cancer Support 19/01/2010 Call for immediate steps to help savers in the Presbyterian Mutual Society 12/01/2010 Significant drop in drink-driving figures welcomed 09/12/2009 Lesie Cree MLA visits Bangor Post Office over the festive season 03/12/2009 Domestic Burglary in Northern Ireland still on increase - Cree 03/12/2009 Cree welcomes findings from the NI crime Survey 26/11/2009 Bank charge ruling will hit consumers hard - Cree 24/11/2009 Fuel price hikes costing consumers dearly - Cree 24/11/2009 Time to pick a team for DUP 26/10/2009 Economy speech at UUP Conference on 24 October 2009 21/10/2009 UUP Response to Invest NI Motion in the Assembly 20 October 2009 19/10/2009 Cree calls for firework safety in North Down 15/10/2009 Cree calls for renewed efforts to combat alchol abuse 13/10/2009 Redburn Students Interview Local Politician 05/10/2009 Fuel Poverty is a real and persistent problem -Cree 29/09/2009 Institutional change ahead for Invest NI - Cree 29/09/2009 Cree supports PSNI targeting smugglers 22/09/2009 Party welcomes Matt Baggott to the PSNI 21/09/2009 Cree expresses drug fears 17/09/2009 We need more statistical information on drug driving offences - Cree 10/09/2009 Counterfeit goods seizure commended - Cree 10/09/2009 phoenix Gas reductions welcome - Cree 10/09/2009 Cree expresses concern at 'support for vigilantism' 03/08/2009 Cree welcomes gender specific consultation for Women Prisoners 03/08/2009 Cree responds to cigarette seizure 09/07/2009 Stabbing condemnation 07/07/2009 Domestic Burglary still on the rise - Cree 02/07/2009 Cree welcomes summer holidays but warns of dangers of acholol 25/06/2009 Economic Debate N I Assembly 23 June 2009 25/06/2009 Full Time reserve must be kept -Cree 09/06/2009 Bee Motion 8 June 2009 19/05/2009 Decrease in loutish behaviour in North Down Welcomed - Cree 19/05/2009 PSNI must refocus victims needs - Cree 13/05/2009 Bee Proactive - Call for more research into bees 13/05/2009 'Bee Proactive' 23/03/2009 Domestic burglaries in North Down have decreased - Cree 10/03/2009 No action by criminals should interfere with peace and stability - Cree 04/03/2009 DUP's posion is obscence- Cree 04/03/2009 UUP gain unanimous support for Business proposals 17/02/2009 The Credit Union Movement has a bright future in Northern Ireland - Cree 17/02/2009 I want a guarantee from the Minister of Finance that this Executive is delivering -Cree 12/02/2009 Cree commends PSNI crackdown on burglary 10/02/2009 Cree welcomes role of education to eliminate and raise awareness of violence against women 22/01/2009 Cree Welcomes Drop in Winter Drink Drive Figures in North Down

Education

Local Schools

Education and Students Northern Ireland has arguably the best education system in the United Kingdom. The results speak for themselves.

Direct Rule has left the future of our education system in the hands of a Labour Government. It is seeking to impose on us the comprehensive system that has totally failed on the mainland.

Ironically the same Government is about to scrap the education system in Great Britain. The Governments Costello Plan will introduce transfer selection by postcode i.e. where you can afford to live rather than your child’s ability will determine the choice of school for your children.

I believe that the 11+-transfer procedure should be replaced with pupil profiles that will provide records of a pupil’s work and test performance during the later years of primary school. This would give post-primary schools and parents an accurate reflection of a child’s abilities.

The impending Review of Public Administration will reduce the number of Education & Library Boards in Northern Ireland to probably one.

It is essential that we have a strong voice that is committed to raising standards in this vital sector and I will continue to work to this end on your behalf so that we may have:

Free and accessible pre-school provision for all children
The replacement of all mobile classrooms with proper accommodation
Raised educational standards in all schools to help all children reach their full potential
Equal recognition and resources for vocational and skill-based schools
Increased funding for vocational and training courses to help students find jobs.

Libraries

We have good library facilities in both Holywood and Bangor. Building work is well underway on the new S.E.E.L.B. library for Bangor which is situated just off Ward Park. Until it is complete a temporary library is in situ within the Flagship Shopping Centre in the town.

NDAI College Further & Higher Education

North Down & Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education is the best in the Province. It has more Centres of Excellence than any other Institute and with its dedicated staff produces excellent results.

However there is no room for complacency and following the review of higher education it is important that we ensure that North Down Institute maintains its top position.

I feel it is also vital that the Institute continues to work with the Council and other stakeholders to move the local economy forward and provide the essential vocational and skills training necessary to meet the challenges of the future.